Chapter 4: The Phone Call He Never Expected
Chapter 4: The Phone Call He Never Expected
Matthew spent the night in a luxury hotel, convinced everything could still be fixed.
Money fixed problems.
Influence fixed scandals.
Lawyers fixed accusations.
And if none of those worked...
Clare always forgave him.
She always came back.
By sunrise, he had assembled the most expensive legal team in New York.
Eight attorneys filled the conference room.
One after another, they reviewed the growing disaster.
"The domestic violence evidence is substantial."
"The financial investigation is expanding."
"The board has scheduled an emergency vote."
Matthew leaned back.
"So?"
One attorney hesitated.
"There's another issue."
"What?"
"They're not negotiating."
Matthew frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Arthur Sterling has rejected every request for settlement."
"Offer him more."
"We already did."
"Double it."
The attorney slowly shook his head.
"He returned the proposal unopened."
At Sterling Memorial Hospital, I was finally able to stand.
Only for a few minutes.
My ribs screamed with every breath.
Still, I insisted.
"I need to walk."
Arthur stayed close but never touched me unless I asked.
"You've always been stubborn."
I smiled faintly.
"I got that from you."
He chuckled.
"I was hoping you'd inherited my business sense instead."
"I did."
"Oh?"
"I finally know when to walk away from a bad investment."
For the first time in days...
My father laughed.
A real laugh.
Meanwhile, the emergency board meeting at NexusCore had become a battlefield.
Matthew entered expecting support.
Instead, every director avoided eye contact.
The chairman spoke first.
"Matthew."
He remained standing.
"We've reviewed the evidence."
"There is no evidence."
"There are hospital records."
"Lies."
"There are financial irregularities."
"Accounting differences."
"There are federal subpoenas."
Matthew's confidence cracked.
"You can't remove me."
The chairman slid a resolution across the table.
"We already have."
Matthew stared at the signatures.
Nine of eleven directors.
Enough.
His own board had voted him out.
Effective immediately.
Security entered quietly.
The lead guard spoke almost apologetically.
"Mr. Hayes..."
Matthew looked around the room.
Not one person defended him.
"You'll need to surrender your company access card."
The man who believed he owned everything...
No longer had access to his own office.
As he stepped outside carrying a single cardboard box, his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered irritably.
"What?"
The familiar voice on the other end made him stop walking.
"Hello, Matthew."
Arthur Sterling.
Matthew swallowed.
"Arthur..."
"No."
Arthur interrupted calmly.
"Mr. Sterling."
"What do you want?"
There was a long silence.
Then Arthur spoke with terrifying composure.
"For years, you convinced yourself my daughter stayed because she was weak."
Matthew said nothing.
"You were wrong."
Another pause.
"She stayed because she believed love could repair a cruel man."
Matthew clenched the phone.
"This isn't over."
Arthur's voice remained perfectly even.
"Oh, it is."
"You destroyed my company."
"No."
"You did that the first time you raised your hand against my daughter."
Click.
The line went dead.
Matthew stared at the silent phone.
For the first time in his adult life...
May you like
There was no one left to call.
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