Chapter 4
"Edward, do something," Melissa shook his arm and called out. "How could your money be frozen? Was it that bitch Claire?"
"Who else could it be?" Edward answered as he shoved her away, his eyes wild with rage and panic.
He realized what kind of enemy he was up against.
Claire wasn't joking around.
She was out to ruin him for good.
"No way. I couldn't sit back and let her ruin me," Edward shouted.
He struggled to his feet and started pacing back and forth in his office.
Move my assets? It was way too late for that.
Ask someone for help? Who would risk crossing the Summers family?
My only shot now was to beg Claire.
Beg her to forgive me, beg her to drop the case.
Edward grabbed his car keys and bolted out of the office like a madman.
"Edward, where are you going?" Melissa shouted after him.
The only answer she got was the deafening slam of the door.
Melissa stared at the empty office, her anger boiling over as she swept all the files off the desk onto the floor.
She couldn't accept it.
She'd spent years clawing her way up from a lowly intern to the top secretary, and now, just when she was about to become Mrs. Shaw, she couldn't let it all fall apart at the last minute.
"Claire," Melissa muttered through gritted teeth.
A dangerous glint of hatred flashed in Melissa's eyes.
It was all Claire's fault.
She yanked out her phone and punched in a number.
"Dig up everything you can on Claire Summers. I want the nastiest dirt you can find," Melissa hissed.
*****
Edward floored it all the way to the Summers family's villa, screeching to a halt at the gates.
But he was stopped at the entrance.
The security guard looked at him like he was trash.
"Mr. Shaw, Ms. Summers gave strict orders. You and dogs are not allowed inside," the guard sneered.
Claire intended to humiliate him.
Edward's face flushed bright red, his fists clenched so tight that his knuckles cracked.
He'd never been treated like this in his life.
"Get Claire out here. I'm her husband," he roared at the security booth.
The guard ignored him.
Helpless, Edward stood at the gate and kept dialing Claire's number again and again.
Every call went straight to voicemail or got cut off.
Then he started texting her nonstop.
Edward pleaded in his texts: [Claire, I was wrong, I really was. Please forgive me this once, okay?
[For Sophie's sake, give me another chance.
[If you drop the charges, I'll do anything you want.]
But it made no difference. She never replied.
The sun was sinking fast, and Edward had been standing there since noon, not a bite to eat or a drop to drink. By now, he was wrecked, exhausted, and desperate.
When he was about to give up, the gates of the Summers family's villa slowly swung open.
It was Michael who stepped out.
Michael walked right up to him, looking down at Edward with pure contempt.
"Get lost," Michael said, his voice dripping with disdain.
Edward's pride took a brutal hit. He lifted his head, eyes red with anger and humiliation.
"I want to see Claire. I'm her husband," Edward shouted.
"Husband?" Michael sneered as he let out a cold, mocking laugh, pulling a stack of photos from his pocket and slapping them right in Edward's face.
"You still have the nerve to call yourself her husband?" Michael snapped.
The photos spilled everywhere.
Every single one showed him and Melissa getting cozy over the years.
There were shots of them hugging outside hotels, feeding each other in restaurants, and some scenes in the office that were downright indecent.
Edward's eyes went wide in shock.
When did Claire get these photos?
Did she know all along?
Was she putting up with it all this time?
A chilling realization hit Edward like a punch to the gut.
Claire had been biding her time, waiting for the moment to take him down.
She wanted a chance to finish him off in one decisive blow.
And like a fool, he'd served that chance up to her on a silver platter.
"What's wrong, Edward? Got nothing to say now?" Michael taunted, watching Edward's face turn ghostly pale, a wave of satisfaction washing over him.
"Claire must've been blind to fall for you before. But now? She's seeing you for what you are," Michael said.
"These photos? Just the tip of the iceberg. Richard says they're more than enough to destroy your reputation in court," Michael added.
"If you know what's good for you, sign the divorce papers and get out of Rivergate. Otherwise, I can't guarantee you won't spend the rest of your life rotting in prison," Michael warned.
Every word out of Michael's mouth hit Edward like a ton of bricks, crushing his heart.
Fear gripped him.
He was terrified.
Edward knew the Summers family could pull this off.
"No, please," Edward pleaded, clinging to Michael's pant leg like a beaten dog with nowhere left to go.
"Please talk to Claire for me. I swear I know I messed up," Edward continued.
"Let go of me. You make me sick," Michael said, kicking Edward away with disgust.
"You want Claire to forgive you? Dream on," Michael sneered, his voice icy with contempt.
With that, Michael turned on his heel and walked off, never sparing Edward another glance.
The gates closed mercilessly in Edward's face, shutting him out for good.
Edward collapsed to the ground, his whole body going cold with despair.
It was over.
Everything was over.
Just then, his phone started ringing again.
It was the board secretary calling.
"Mr. Shaw, you're suspended from everything, effective immediately. The VP is taking over. The tax guys and the SEC are crawling all over the place. They're tearing the company apart," the secretary said.
Another bomb dropped on him.
Edward's world went dark. He hit the ground, out cold.
Word of Edward's suspension and the company's investigation spread like wildfire throughout the business world.
Everyone loved to kick a man when he was down.
All those partners who used to fawn over him were now scrambling to cut ties, desperate to distance themselves as fast as possible.
When Edward woke up in the hospital, he found himself alone.
He couldn't reach anyone, not his family, not his friends, and not even Melissa.
He'd become a true outcast, abandoned by everyone.
In his despair, his mind turned to his mother, Linda Shaw.
His voice was hoarse as he dialed Linda's number.
"Mom, help me," Edward whispered.
On the other end, Linda was more worked up than he was.
"Help you? How am I supposed to help you? You disgraceful bastard, you've ruined our family's reputation," Linda screamed, her voice shaking with rage.
"Everyone is talking behind my back. I'm too ashamed to leave the house," Linda shouted, her voice trembling with humiliation.
"Listen up, Edward. If you can't get Claire back, don't even think about calling me your mother again," Linda Shaw snapped.
With that, Linda hung up on him.