Chapter 11 - THE PRICE OF A HUSBAND
Adrian offered Ryan $300 million.
That was the price.
Not cash.
Stock.
A sixteen-percent ownership position in the merged development company.
In exchange, Ryan would testify that Charlotte was mentally unstable and that she had used Bennett Global to secretly manipulate his business throughout their marriage.
Ryan brought the offer to Charlotte himself.
She read it.
“Why show me?”
“Because I’m not signing it.”
“Why not?”
He laughed quietly.
“Would you believe any answer?”
“Probably not.”
“Fair.”
He sat across from her.
“I have spent most of my adult life becoming somebody other people designed.”
“Adrian designed my career.”
“Sabrina designed the man she wanted me to be.”
“And I let both happen.”
Charlotte said nothing.
Ryan continued.
“I thought walking away from you would make me free.”
“It turns out I was walking directly into another contract.”
He pushed the offer across.
“Use it.”
Charlotte looked at him.
“This doesn’t save you.”
“I know.”
“You still committed fraud.”
“I know.”
“You still stole corporate money.”
“I’ll repay it.”
“That doesn’t erase it.”
“I know.”
“And I am divorcing you.”
His jaw tightened.
“I know.”
The last answer hurt them both.
Ryan stood.
At the door, Charlotte stopped him.
“Why did you let Sabrina throw the money?”
He closed his eyes.
“I was angry at you.”
“For coming?”
“For making me feel small.”
Charlotte stared.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“That was the problem.”
He looked at her.
“You stood there looking at me like you knew exactly what I was.”
“And I hated you for it.”
Charlotte touched the ten-dollar bill in her pocket.
“I was waiting for you to defend me.”
“I know.”
“Three seconds.”
“I know.”
“That’s all it would have taken.”
Ryan nodded.
“I think about those three seconds more than the eleven years before them.”
Then he left.
Charlotte did not call him back.
May you like
Some moments were too small to notice while they happened.
And large enough to end a marriage afterward.
