Chapter 4: The Man Who Wanted Me Broken
Three days after Daniel Ashford threw me into the rain, I walked back into the world he thought he controlled.
Not as his wife.
Not as the quiet woman who stood behind him at charity events, smiling politely while everyone praised his success.
I returned as Emily Carter.
The daughter of Alexander Carter.
The woman whose name had been hidden from the public for years.
The irony was almost painful.
Daniel had spent years telling people I was lucky to have him.
Now, the entire business world was discovering that he had been lucky to have me.
The headlines were everywhere.
*ASHFORD GROUP FACES INVESTIGATION AFTER SHOCKING REVELATIONS*
*CEO DANIEL ASHFORD ACCUSED OF FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT*
*MYSTERY WOMAN REVEALED AS CARTER FAMILY HEIR*
I stared at the articles on my phone while sitting in my father's office.
The words felt unreal.
A week ago, I was preparing a nursery in the mansion.
A week ago, I was choosing baby clothes while imagining Daniel holding our child.
Now, strangers were analyzing my marriage like it was entertainment.
My father's company had released a statement, but he refused to let my name become a weapon.
He wanted justice.
Not revenge.
There was a difference.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this?"" my father asked.
I looked up.
He stood by the window, looking over the city.
The same city that feared his decisions.
The same city where one phone call from him could change the future of companies.
But with me, he was never a billionaire.
He was just my father.
"Yes," I answered.
His eyes softened.
"Emily...""
"I need to.""
I placed my hand over my stomach.
"I spent years letting him make me feel small.""
My voice became quieter.
"I believed him when he said I was nothing without him.""
My father walked toward me.
"You were never nothing.""
"I know that now.""
And I did.
That was the difference.
Before, I needed Daniel to realize my worth.
Now, I didn't.
My worth existed whether he recognized it or not.
A knock interrupted us.
My father's chief attorney entered the room.
"Mr. Carter.""
He nodded.
"Emily.""
I noticed the seriousness in his expression.
"What happened?""
He placed a folder on the desk.
"We found another issue.""
My father's expression immediately changed.
"What kind of issue?""
The attorney opened the folder.
"Daniel wasn't only hiding company funds.""
He pushed several documents forward.
"He was preparing to transfer ownership of several assets before the investigation became public.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
The attorney looked at me.
"Because he expected a divorce battle.""
A cold feeling moved through my chest.
"He planned this.""
"Yes.""
My father looked through the documents.
"He knew exactly what he was doing.""
The attorney continued.
"There's more.""
He placed another paper down.
"Daniel created evidence suggesting you were mentally unstable.""
I froze.
"What?""
The room became silent.
The attorney's voice remained professional.
"He intended to use it during the custody hearing.""
My hands tightened.
"He wanted to make me look like an unfit mother.""
My father looked furious.
Not loud.
Not emotional.
Just dangerous.
"He tried to take your child after destroying your marriage.""
I looked away.
A tear slipped down my face.
Not because I was weak.
Because I finally understood how far Daniel was willing to go.
The man who once held me while I cried after losing my grandmother was now creating lies to take away my baby.
"How long was he planning this?"" I whispered.
The attorney hesitated.
"Possibly months.""
Months.
That word hurt.
While I was decorating a room for our child...
While I was believing we were becoming a family...
Daniel was preparing my destruction.
My father sat beside me.
"Emily.""
I looked at him.
"This ends now.""
I nodded.
But before anything else could happen, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
But something made me answer.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice came through.
"Emily Carter?""
I frowned.
"Who is this?""
"My name is Rachel Morgan.""
I recognized the name.
Daniel's former assistant.
She had worked for Ashford Group for six years.
"Why are you calling me?""
There was fear in her voice.
"Because I know what Daniel did.""
I stood slowly.
"What do you mean?""
"He didn't just betray you.""
Silence.
"He betrayed everyone.""
I looked at my father.
He immediately understood something was wrong.
Rachel continued.
"I have documents. Emails. Financial records.""
My heartbeat increased.
"Why are you telling me this?""
Her voice cracked.
"Because I helped him hide things.""
That surprised me.
"What?""
"I thought I was protecting my job.""
She whispered.
"But after seeing what he did to you...""
A pause.
"I couldn't stay silent anymore.""
My father gestured for me to put the phone on speaker.
Rachel continued.
"Daniel has been planning to remove you from his life for almost a year.""
My stomach turned.
"A year?""
"Yes.""
The words felt like another betrayal.
"Why?""
Rachel hesitated.
"Because of Victoria.""
Of course.
The other woman.
"He wanted a clean image before announcing their relationship.""
My fingers trembled.
"So I was just an obstacle.""
Rachel didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
Because I already knew.
After the call ended, my father looked at me.
"Are you okay?""
I looked out at the city.
For years, I had wondered when my marriage started dying.
Now I knew.
It didn't die suddenly.
Daniel had been killing it quietly.
Piece by piece.
Day by day.
And I had been the only person trying to save it.
But no more.
I stood.
"Find Rachel.""
My father nodded.
"And Daniel?""
I looked at the folder filled with evidence against him.
"Let him believe he won.""
May you like
A small smile appeared on my face.
"People make mistakes when they think they're untouchable.""
