Chapter 3

"What do you think you're doing?"

His eyes locked on mine, his voice carrying the weight of an order.

I had founded Horizon Tech before our marriage, and it remained mine. After the wedding, Horizon and Hayes Group created a joint AI division. Hayes supplied the expansion capital and controlled its day-to-day budget, while Horizon supplied the engineers and technology. The core patents remained with Bennett IP, a holding company I had owned before I met Ethan. Those patents now supported nearly every major product Hayes Group sold.

I knocked his hand away.

"Reviewing my separate property. Why does that make you nervous, Mr. Hayes?"

Irritation flashed across his face, then disappeared behind his practiced warmth.

"I know you're grieving, but don't blow up two companies because you're angry with me."

He stood and looked down at me.

"I've explained Madison. Her father once saved my life, and I owe it to the family to take care of her."

"Tell me what it will take to make this right. But don't threaten the business to get my attention."

He spoke as if any betrayal could be settled with the right payout. I no longer had the energy to argue.

"I'm tired. I need to rest."

I closed my eyes, ending the conversation.

Ethan stood beside the bed for a long time. At last, he released a defeated sigh.

"Get some sleep. I'll check on you later."

The door clicked shut. I opened my eyes and sent Daniel an encrypted message.

[Move faster. Audit every patent license for termination rights. Prepare to withdraw my capital and offer the Horizon engineers new contracts.]

A week later, the hospital discharged me.

Ethan drove me home himself to our estate in Lake Forest. The moment I entered the living room, I saw familiar sketches scattered across the coffee table.

Before losing the baby, I had spent several sleepless nights designing our fifth-anniversary celebration. Those were my plans.

Ethan removed his suit jacket and followed my gaze. He did not look remotely uncomfortable.

"I'm glad you saw those. I was going to talk to you about them."

He gathered the drawings into a neat stack.

"Madison is hosting a charity gala next month. She's been away for years, and she needs the right event to reintroduce herself to the donor circuit. I gave her your design. We changed a few details."

I stared at the pages in his hands. I had spent hours on every one of them.

"That design was for our anniversary."

He walked toward me and tried to put an arm around my shoulders. I stepped aside. His hand fell through empty air, and his brow tightened.

"Her gala is coming up fast. Besides, you've only just recovered. You shouldn't exhaust yourself with an event."

"I kept the calla lilies you wanted. Think of it as your contribution to a good cause."

He had stolen my work and dressed the theft up as generosity. In his mind, leaving one decorative element intact was a gift.

I met his eyes.

"Ethan, I want a divorce."

The air in the room seemed to solidify.

Every trace of tenderness vanished from his face.

"Have you completely lost your mind, Claire?"

He slammed the plans onto the coffee table.

"You're asking for a divorce over an event design? Do you have any idea how many people would trade places with you without hesitating? I've given you security, respect, and every opportunity you ever asked for. What is it you think you're missing?"

Disgust rose in my throat.

"Is that your idea of respect? Paying a doctor to kill my child, then stealing my work to impress your mistress?"

His pupils contracted.

He recovered quickly, and all the warmth left his voice.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"If you're determined to be irrational, stay home until you cool off. I'll have Finance hold next quarter's funding for the Horizon research division until we can review your fitness to lead it."

He delivered the threat in a perfectly calm voice.

Ethan thought cutting off my cash flow would force me to crawl back and apologize. I watched him walk away, then took out my phone and called a number I had not used in three years.

"Victor, the Zurich partnership you proposed. I'm ready to talk."