Chapter 3 - The Confrontation
I opened the door, keeping my posture relaxed, my shoulder leaning against the frame. I showed zero surprise, zero anger.
Sophia stood there, her subtle perfume filling the space between us. Up close, her carefully crafted image of fragile innocence showed cracks—the thick layer of concealer couldn't fully hide the exhaustion around her eyes, but her expression was dripping with arrogance.
"Claire," Sophia said, her voice dripping with artificial sympathy. "I had a feeling I’d find you here. Julian Vance’s assistant is an old college friend of mine. It wasn't hard to track your location."
"You always were good at invading spaces where you don't belong, Sophia," I replied smoothly, crossing my arms. "What do you want? Adrian isn't here. He's currently at Moretti Tower, watching his empire crumble."
Sophia chuckled, stepping forward into the doorway, forcing me to either step back or block her. I stepped aside, allowing her to strut into my suite like she owned it. She walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows, taking in the panoramic view of the Chicago skyline.
"It’s sad, really," Sophia said, lightly touching the emerald bracelet on her wrist. "You held onto him for two years, Claire. You played the dutiful wife, the brilliant lawyer, the pristine partner. And yet, with one phone call, he left you sitting in an empty house while he walked me into the most exclusive event of the season."
"You mean the event where everyone spent the evening whispering behind your back?" I countered, taking a seat at the dining table. "Where Ethan’s father publicly shamed you for wearing stolen heirlooms?"
Sophia’s jaw tightened, her smug smile faltering for a fraction of a second before she recovered.
"They whispered because they were jealous," Sophia sneered. "They know the truth. Adrian never loved you, Claire. You were a business transaction. His father forced him to marry you because your family’s legal firm held the keys to the city’s regulatory boards. I was the one he cried for when his grandmother died. I was the one he called every time he couldn't take the pressure."
"And yet," I said, leaning back, "he didn't marry you. When his family was looking for a matriarch, they chose me. And when he needed someone to keep him out of federal prison, he relied on me."
"Well, things have changed," Sophia spat, taking a step toward me, raising her left hand so the green emeralds flashed beneath the chandelier. "Look at this, Claire. Look at it! He gave this to me. He told me it belonged on a woman he actually cared about. He told me you were cold, unfeeling, a robot in a blazer."
"If he cares about you so much, Sophia, why did he just call me five minutes ago, begging me to take him back?"
Sophia froze. The color drained from her cheeks. "What?"
"He begged me to come to the 3:00 PM board meeting," I said, looking at my manicured nails. "He offered to make you issue a public apology just to save his CEO position. He told me you were having a hysterical panic attack and that you meant nothing to him compared to his standing in the company."
"You're lying!" Sophia snapped, her voice losing its polished edge, raising in pitch. "Adrian loves me! He promised he would divorce you by the end of the year!"
"He didn't have to," I replied coldly. "I divorced him first. But here’s the problem you're facing, Sophia. Right now, Victor Moretti is stripping Adrian of every penny and every title he possesses. The money you've been secretly transferring to your father’s Miami creditors through Aegis Security? I handed those records to Victor an hour ago."
Sophia’s eyes widened in genuine, horrific terror. She took a step back, her hand instinctively dropping to her side. "How... how do you know about that?"
"I am the Chief Legal Counsel, Sophia. Did you really think a few amateur offshore wire transfers from a ghost firm would slip past me? The moment Victor presents those documents to the board at 3:00 PM, Adrian won't just be ruined—he’ll realize that his beloved childhood sweetheart didn't come back for his love. She came back to use him as a financial shield."
"You bitch," Sophia whispered, her voice shaking with rage. "You destroyed everything!"
"No," I corrected, standing up and stepping toward her until I was towering over her smaller frame. "You destroyed yourself the moment you posted that picture on Instagram. You couldn't just have him in secret, could you? Your ego demanded that the world see your triumph. You wanted to humiliate me publicly. But all you did was illuminate your own crimes."
I reached out, my fingers wrapping firmly around her wrist—specifically around Eleanor’s emerald bracelet.
Sophia tried to pull back, but my grip was iron tight.
"Take it off," I commanded, my voice dropping to a deadly, quiet whisper.
"Let go of me!" Sophia gasped, struggling against my hold. "Adrian gave this to me!"
"And I am taking it back," I said. With my free hand, I deftly unclasp the intricate gold mechanism—a clasp I knew intimate details of, having studied its design for years. The heavy emerald band slid off her wrist and into my palm.
Sophia stumbled backward, clutching her bare arm, tears of frustration spilling over her mascara. "I’ll tell Adrian you assaulted me! He’ll destroy you!"
"Adrian can't even save himself right now," I said, opening my pocketbook and sliding the bracelet safely inside. "Now, get out of my room before I call hotel security and have you removed for trespassing."
Sophia glared at me with pure venom, her chest heaving. "This isn't over, Claire. You think you've won because you have a piece of metal? Adrian will never let you walk away with his company's assets. He will hunt you down."
"Let him try," I said softly, holding the door open for her. "I'm not his wife anymore, Sophia. I'm his worst nightmare: an enemy who knows all his secrets."
Sophia turned on her high heels and stormed out down the corridor.
I closed the door, locking it behind her. My heart was pounding against my ribs, but my hands were completely steady. I walked over to my desk, picked up my phone, and dialed Julian.
"Julian," I said the moment he picked up. "I have the bracelet."
"Great. Now get out of Chicago," Julian urged, his voice frantic. "The board meeting at Moretti Tower just started early. Victor brought in the state prosecutors."
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"What?" I frowned. "Victor called the prosecutors himself?"
"Victor isn't trying to save Adrian anymore, Claire," Julian revealed, dropping a bombshell. "Victor realized Adrian committed treason against the family business. Victor just announced to the board that Adrian is being officially removed as CEO... and they are preparing a warrant for his arrest."
