Chapter 3: The Empire He Built on a Lie
The next morning, the world woke up to the news.
Daniel Ashford's name was everywhere.
But not for success.
Not for his company.
Not for the luxury empire he had spent years building.
For scandal.
For betrayal.
For corruption.
I sat in my father's private office overlooking the city.
The same city where Daniel once told me I was lucky to be his wife.
Funny how quickly things changed.
My father's assistant placed a cup of tea in front of me.
"You should rest.""
I smiled faintly.
"I've heard that a lot.""
My father sat across from me.
"You don't have to be strong every second.""
I looked down.
"I was stupid.""
"No.""
"I ignored the signs.""
"You trusted someone.""
His answer was immediate.
"That is not stupidity.""
I stayed quiet.
Because part of me still struggled to accept what happened.
I had spent years believing my marriage was my greatest achievement.
Now I realized it was the biggest illusion of my life.
My phone suddenly vibrated.
Daniel.
I stared at the screen.
My father noticed.
"You don't have to answer.""
I hesitated.
Then I picked up.
"Emily.""
His voice sounded different.
Not arrogant.
Not confident.
Desperate.
"What do you want?""
"Please listen.""
I said nothing.
"I didn't know who you were.""
I closed my eyes.
There it was.
The truth.
He didn't regret hurting me.
He regretted losing power.
"You didn't need to know who I was to treat me like a human being.""
Silence.
Daniel had no answer.
"I loved you," I continued.
"And you used that.""
"Emily...""
"No.""
My voice remained calm.
"You made your choice.""
His breathing became heavier.
"Can we meet?""
"No.""
"Please.""
"Goodbye, Daniel.""
I ended the call.
For the first time in years, I felt free.
But freedom came with a price.
Because I knew Daniel Ashford would not simply disappear.
Men like him didn't accept losing.
They fought.
They blamed.
They destroyed.
And somewhere in that city, Daniel was already planning his next move.
My father's assistant entered the room.
"Mr. Carter?""
"Yes?""
"We discovered something else.""
My father looked up.
"What?""
The assistant placed a document on the table.
"The divorce papers Daniel prepared were not just intended to remove Mrs. Carter from the estate.""
My stomach tightened.
"What else?""
The assistant looked serious.
"He planned to take full custody of the child.""
The room went silent.
My hand immediately moved protectively over my stomach.
My baby.
Even after everything...
He wanted to take my baby too.
My father picked up the document.
His expression changed.
Not the expression of a businessman.
The expression of a father protecting his child.
"Then Daniel Ashford has made another mistake.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
My father closed the folder.
"He thought he was fighting a woman with nothing.""
A small, cold smile appeared on his face.
"He forgot he was challenging the Carter family.""
Outside the window, the city continued moving.
Cars passed.
People walked.
Life continued.
But somewhere in that city, an empire was about to collapse.
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And Daniel Ashford still had no idea...
The woman he threw away would become the reason his entire world fell apart.
