Chapter 5 - The Night the Moretti Empire Began to Fall
Alexander left the hospital so quickly that he forgot his coat.
For the first time in years, I didn't follow him.
I remained beside Daniel, staring at the empty doorway.
“Someone tried to abduct Ethan,” I whispered.
Daniel nodded.
“And somebody attempted to access your baby's medical records. We don't know whether the incidents are connected.”
“But you think they are.”
“I think we need evidence.”
That evening, the Chicago police confirmed that two men had approached Ethan outside his school.
One carried a forged authorization letter.
The other had a concealed weapon.
Ethan's security guard intervened and suffered a serious injury.
The boy escaped through a service entrance.
Alexander found him two hours later at a secure property outside the city.
I learned these details from Daniel, not my husband.
Because by then, I had blocked Alexander's personal number.
Not out of revenge.
Out of necessity.
Every conversation with him left me questioning my own judgment.
And I needed a clear mind.
The following morning, Daniel called with another discovery.
“We traced the twelve million dollars.”
“Where did it go?”
“Six million reached Halcyon Medical Research. The remaining six million passed through three intermediary companies.”
“Who owns them?”
“That's where it gets interesting.”
I waited.
“One is connected to Olivia Hayes.”
My stomach tightened.
“And the others?”
“Two shell companies with directors associated with Victor Moretti.”
Alexander's uncle.
The man who had served as chairman of Moretti Global after Alexander's father died.
Victor had always treated me with polished courtesy.
He sent flowers on my birthday.
Asked about my pregnancy.
Called me family.
“Are you sure?”
“Not yet about ultimate ownership. But the corporate filings point in his direction.”
I remembered Victor standing beside Olivia at the auction.
He had been smiling when Alexander fastened the necklace around her neck.
At the time, I thought he was enjoying my humiliation.
Now I wondered whether he had been enjoying something else.
Daniel continued.
“We also found that Halcyon hired a private investigator to compile information about your prenatal care.”
My blood turned cold.
“Who authorized it?”
“We're working on that.”
I looked toward the nursery I had started decorating only weeks earlier.
A white crib.
Soft yellow curtains.
A tiny stuffed rabbit Alexander had bought during our first ultrasound appointment.
I had imagined our daughter sleeping there.
Safe.
Loved.
Protected.
Instead, strangers were trying to obtain her medical information before she had even been born.
“Daniel,” I said, “I want every account connected to my family trust audited.”
“Already underway.”
“And I want the divorce petition filed today.”
There was a pause.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
By noon, the filing was complete.
By two, the news had reached the financial press.
By four, Moretti Global's stock had fallen sharply amid speculation about governance problems.
And by six, Alexander appeared at my door.
This time, he came alone.
I met him in the front hallway with two security officers nearby.
He looked exhausted.
“Ethan is safe,” he said immediately.
“I'm glad.”
“His guard is recovering.”
“Good.”
He studied my face.
“You filed.”
“Yes.”
“Claire—”
“Don't.”
He stopped.
I handed him a sealed envelope.
“What's this?”
“Copies of the documents Daniel found.”
Alexander opened it.
As he read, the color drained from his face.
“Victor,” he whispered.
“You recognize the companies?”
“Yes.”
“Then you understand why this is no longer just about our marriage.”
Alexander looked at me.
“Claire, my uncle has been trying to gain control of the company for years.”
“Then perhaps you should have paid more attention to your business and less to Olivia's jewelry collection.”
He accepted the blow.
“I deserve that.”
“You deserve much worse.”
His eyes glistened.
“I know.”
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then Alexander reached into his pocket.
He placed a small velvet box on the hallway table.
Inside was my wedding ring.
The one I had abandoned at the auction.
“I kept it,” he said.
I looked at it.
“Why?”
“Because I thought you'd come home.”
I closed the box.
“Then you still don't understand.”
He lowered his head.
Before he could answer, his phone rang.
Alexander glanced at the screen.
His expression changed.
He answered on speaker.
“Moretti.”
A distorted voice spoke.
“Your wife has something that belongs to us.”
Alexander went still.
“Who is this?”
“Tell Claire Bennett to stop looking into Halcyon.”
My breath caught.
The voice continued.
“Or the next time we come for a child, it won't be Ethan.”
The call ended.
Alexander slowly looked at my stomach.
May you like
And I saw something in his eyes that frightened me more than his anger ever had.
Absolute terror.
