Chapter 5 - Everything He Lost
Leah lifted her eyes.
“We are finished.”
Ryan gave a nervous laugh.
“You’re upset.”
“I am clear.”
“You cannot walk away from this marriage after one disagreement.”
Leah placed both hands on the edge of the table.
“This was not a disagreement.”
She pushed upward with all her strength.
The table flipped.
China shattered across the floor. Elaine jumped from her chair. Ryan stepped backward as food, flowers, and coffee crashed between them.
Leah straightened.
Her cheek still burned, but her voice did not shake.
“You just lost the wife, the house, and the company.”
Ryan stared at her.
“The house belongs to my family.”
“No. The mortgage was purchased by North Vale Holdings six months ago.”
Elaine’s face changed.
Ryan recovered first.
“That means nothing.”
“North Vale belongs to me.”
Leah watched the truth strike him more effectively than any physical blow could have.
“The company is mine too,” she continued. “Or at least the controlling debt is. You defaulted on the emergency loan thirty days ago.”
“You cannot take Hartwell Global.”
“I already can.”
Ryan looked toward Chloe.
Chloe had slowly reached beside her chair.
She lifted Leah’s phone and the blue folder.
Elaine’s voice became sharp.
“Where did you get those?”
Chloe looked at Leah.
“She knows.”
Ryan moved toward the kitchen door, locked it, and slipped the key into his pocket.
It was then Leah saw the final proof.
Fear.
Not anger.
May you like
Not pride.
Fear.
