Chapter 7 - THE CALDWELL EMPIRE
Ethan spent the next forty-eight hours discovering how little he actually owned.
Natalie's father had been careful.
Too careful.
Before his death, he had created separate property structures.
Land.
Commercial buildings.
Investment accounts.
Several holding companies.
Ethan had been allowed to operate them.
He had never owned all of them.
Natalie had.
For years, Ethan had called it a technicality.
Now the technicality was standing between him and bankruptcy.
His business partner, Victor Hale, arrived at the office.
“You lied to me.”
Ethan stared.
“What?”
“You told me you owned the industrial properties.”
“I control them.”
“That wasn't my question.”
Victor threw a folder onto the desk.
“Your wife owns the majority.”
Ethan said nothing.
Victor shook his head.
“You're going to lose everything.”
“No.”
“You've already started.”
That evening, Ethan went to the new house location.
He found only construction equipment.
The old house stood there on its new foundation.
Different land.
Different sky.
Same house.
Ethan's mouth fell open.
Natalie appeared on the porch.
She wore jeans and a simple white sweater.
No jewelry.
No makeup.
No fear.
Ethan stared.
“You moved the house.”
“Yes.”
“You can't do this.”
“I already did.”
“This is my home.”
Natalie shook her head.
“No.”
She looked at the house.
“It was our home.”
Then she looked back at him.
“Now it's mine.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“I want the children.”
“They don't want to go.”
“They're minors.”
“They are old enough to speak for themselves.”
“I'll take you to court.”
Natalie smiled faintly.
“You can try.”
Ethan's voice lowered.
“You're destroying my life.”
Natalie's expression changed.
“No, Ethan.”
She looked directly into his eyes.
“You destroyed your life.”
“I simply chose someone else.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“You chose to believe I would have no choice but to accept your choice.”
Ethan had no answer.
Natalie continued.
“You thought I was the furniture.”
She gestured toward the house.
May you like
“You forgot I owned the land.”
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