Chapter 1 - THE TWO BLACK SUVS
The first SUV stopped directly beside Claire.
The second blocked the street behind it.
Four men stepped out.
They wore dark coats, discreet earpieces, and the calm expressions of people who had already been told exactly what they were walking into.
The tallest one approached slowly.
“Mrs. Whitmore?”
Claire nodded.
“My name is Marcus Hale.”
“I oversee security for Mr. Vance.”
He removed his coat and placed it around Claire’s shoulders.
A woman stepped from the second vehicle carrying a medical bag.
“Dr. Elena Brooks.”
“Your father asked me to examine you immediately.”
Claire almost laughed.
Grant had spent five years mocking Arthur Vance’s protectiveness.
Now Arthur had sent a physician before Grant had even finished pouring Vanessa another glass of champagne.
Marcus looked toward the mansion.
“Is your husband still inside?”
“Yes.”
“Did he assault you?”
“Six times.”
Marcus’s expression did not change.
“Any weapons?”
“Not that I saw.”
“Anyone else inside?”
“Vanessa Cole.”
Claire swallowed.
“She’s wearing my clothes.”
Dr. Brooks carefully examined Claire’s face beneath the SUV’s interior light.
The swelling around her cheek was already deepening.
Her lip was split.
Her ribs hurt when she breathed.
“You need imaging.”
Claire nodded.
Then the front gate opened.
Grant emerged beneath a black umbrella.
He looked furious.
“What the hell is this?”
Marcus stepped between him and Claire.
Grant recognized the Vance security insignia.
His stride slowed.
“You called your father?”
Claire looked at him from inside the SUV.
“Yes.”
Grant laughed once.
Nervously.
“Claire, stop being dramatic.”
“You embarrassed me in my own home.”
“You hit me.”
Grant’s jaw tightened.
“You provoked me.”
Marcus said nothing.
But the small camera clipped near his lapel was recording everything.
Grant noticed it too late.
Vanessa appeared behind him in Claire’s silk robe.
She crossed her arms.
“She’s making a scene because her marriage is over.”
Claire looked at the pearl earrings hanging from Vanessa’s ears.
Her mother’s earrings.
The last Christmas gift Claire had received before her mother died.
Something inside her became perfectly calm.
“Marcus.”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Photograph everything.”
Grant stepped forward.
“You are not bringing people onto my property.”
Claire looked at him.
“That’s interesting.”
“What?”
“You keep calling it your property.”
Grant frowned.
Claire continued.
“You’ve done that for years.”
“What are you talking about?”
She looked toward the mansion.
The house had been purchased three months after their wedding.
Grant had always told people Whitmore Development owned it.
He had never read the final closing documents carefully.
Arthur Vance had.
Claire spoke quietly.
“The deed is in my trust.”
Grant stopped breathing for a second.
“The house belongs to me.”
“No.”
Claire shook her head.
“You live in my house.”
Vanessa’s smile disappeared.
Grant stared at Claire.
Then Claire gave Marcus one final instruction.
“Change every exterior access code tonight.”
Grant laughed.
“You can’t lock me out of my own home.”
Marcus opened the SUV door for Claire.
She looked directly at her husband.
“Watch me.”
As the vehicles pulled away, Grant stood in the rain beneath the gate lights.
His phone began ringing.
It was his company’s chief financial officer.
Grant answered angrily.
“What?”
The CFO spoke for twelve seconds.
Grant’s face went pale.
May you like
Arthur Vance had frozen a nine-figure credit facility supporting half of Whitmore Development’s active projects.
And that was only the first call.
