Chapter 2: The Chairman’s Question
The ballroom remained frozen.
No music.
No conversations.
No fake smiles.
Just hundreds of people watching my marriage collapse beneath golden lights.
Victor Hayes slowly approached us.
The chairman of Carter International had built the company with Ethan’s father decades earlier. He was the one person in that room who could make Ethan nervous.
And right now, Ethan looked terrified.
“Ethan,” Victor said calmly.
My husband released Lauren’s arm.
“Victor, this is a misunderstanding.””
Victor looked at Lauren’s wrist.
Then at me.
Then back at Ethan.
“Is it?””
Ethan opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
That was when I knew.
Not because Lauren had accused him.
Not because of the bracelet.
Because my husband was silent.
For twelve years, Ethan always had an answer.
He could negotiate with investors, destroy competitors in meetings, and convince anyone of anything.
But standing there, facing the chairman, he had nothing.
“Claire,” Victor said, “I think we need to talk somewhere private.””
Ethan immediately stepped forward.
“That won’t be necessary.””
Victor looked at him.
“Actually, I think it is.””
The tone in his voice made the entire room understand.
This was no longer a husband-and-wife argument.
This involved the company.
Ethan forced a smile.
“Victor, Lauren is my assistant. Whatever happened tonight has nothing to do with business.””
I looked at Lauren.
She looked away.
That small movement told me everything.
She had been confident moments ago.
Now she was afraid.
Victor noticed too.
“Interesting,” he said.
Ethan frowned.
“What?””
“You said she was only your assistant.””
“She is.””
Victor nodded slowly.
“Then why is she wearing your wife’s anniversary gift?””
Silence.
Ethan looked at me.
For the first time that night, he actually looked at the bracelet.
His face changed.
Not shock.
Not confusion.
Fear.
“Claire…”
I stepped back.
“Don’t.””
His voice lowered.
“Listen to me.””
“No.””
People moved away, pretending not to watch.
But everyone was watching.
Because everyone in that room knew something terrible had happened.
I touched my burning cheek.
The place where Ethan’s hand had struck me.
And I realized something worse than betrayal.
He had not even asked why.
He had chosen her before he knew the truth.
“Tell me one thing,” I said.
Ethan looked at me.
“Did you give her my bracelet?””
His silence answered before he did.
“Claire—”
“Yes or no?””
His eyes flickered.
“It wasn’t like that.””
I laughed softly.
A painful, empty sound.
“That wasn’t my question.””
Lauren suddenly spoke.
“Ethan, maybe we should leave.””
Victor turned toward her.
“No. You’re staying.””
Lauren froze.
Victor continued.
“Because I have another question.””
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his phone.
“I received an anonymous message three days ago.””
Ethan’s expression changed.
“What message?””
Victor looked at him.
“A warning.””
The room became quieter.
“A warning that someone inside this company was planning to remove a major shareholder from control.””
Ethan’s face went pale.
I looked between them.
“Major shareholder?””
Victor turned to me.
“Claire, did your husband tell you that your late father’s shares were transferred last month?””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Ethan immediately stepped forward.
“Victor, this isn’t the place.””
But it was too late.
Because I had heard the words.
My father’s shares.
The shares I inherited after he died.
The shares that made me one of Carter International’s largest private shareholders.
“What transfer?”” I asked.
Ethan looked away.
And that was the moment I knew.
The bracelet was not the beginning.
It was only the first crack.
Victor lowered his voice.
“Claire, before tonight, did you know your voting rights were scheduled to disappear?””
I stared at Ethan.
“No.””
The chairman sighed.
“Then someone has been keeping you in the dark.””
Ethan stepped toward me.
“Claire, please. Let me explain.””
I looked at him.
“The same way you explained the bracelet?””
His face tightened.
“Please.””
I almost believed him.
Almost.
Then Lauren’s phone, lying on the nearby table, lit up.
A message appeared on the screen.
Everyone closest to it saw the preview.
Including me.
*The wife knows. Get rid of the documents before she finds the original agreement.*
My blood ran cold.
I looked at Lauren.
Then Ethan.
“Original agreement?””
Neither of them spoke.
Victor slowly picked up the phone.
May you like
And his expression changed.
Because he knew exactly what document that message was talking about.
