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THE EMAIL THAT DESTROYED THEIR PERFECT LIFE / Chapter 2 / 4

PART 2 — THE MORNING HIS EMPIRE STARTED FALLING

At exactly 9:00 a.m., I pressed send.

The email left my screen.

And for a moment…

nothing happened.

Then my phone started ringing.

One call.

Then another.

Then ten more.

Carter Global executives.

HR.

Board members.

Everyone wanted answers.

I turned my phone face down.

For the first time in three years…

I slept peacefully.

By 10:30 a.m., the internet was already moving.

Someone leaked the photos.

The same photos Brittany sent me.

Only now…

everyone had seen them.

Michael’s name was everywhere.

CEO involved with employee.

Corporate scandal.

Betrayal.

His carefully built reputation was burning.

Then my phone rang.

Michael.

I answered.

“Claire.”

His voice was different.

Not confident.

Not powerful.

Afraid.

“What did you do?”

I looked out the window.

“What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean.”

“No.”

I smiled.

“I just told the truth.”

Silence.

Then:

“You destroyed me.”

I closed my eyes.

“No, Michael.”

“You destroyed yourself.”

That afternoon, I received another call.

Ryan.

“Claire, there’s a problem.”

I sat up.

“What?”

“Brittany didn’t act alone.”

My expression changed.

“What are you saying?”

“She was being funded.”

“By who?”

A pause.

Then:

“I’m sending you something.”

A file appeared.

Inside were bank transfers.

Payments.

Hidden accounts.

And one name.

Carter Family Holdings.

I froze.

“That’s impossible.”

Ryan’s voice was quiet.

“Claire…”

“What?”

“The money came from inside your husband’s company.”

That night, Michael came to my hotel.

I almost didn’t open the door.

But I wanted answers.

He stood there looking exhausted.

A man who lost everything in one day.

“You hate me,” he said.

“Yes.”

He nodded.

“I deserve that.”

I studied him.

“You married me for access.”

“No.”

“You lied.”

“Yes.”

“You cheated.”

His silence answered.

I stepped back.

“Then what do you want?”

His voice dropped.

“To warn you.”

I laughed.

“Warn me?”

“Yes.”

“About what?”

He looked terrified.

“Brittany wasn’t the person controlling this.”

My smile disappeared.

“Who was?”

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