Chapter 4 - The Unmasking at Michigan Avenue
Ethan’s mouth opened slightly, his confident smirk freezing into a mask of pure irritation.
"What is this?" Ethan demanded, taking two sharp steps into the office. "Madison, what are you doing here? We discussed this last night. You belong at home."
Patricia stepped into the room behind her son, her eyes narrowing as she looked from me to my grandmother.
"Eleanor," Patricia said, forcing a tight, insincere smile. "I see you brought Madison to oversee the transition. That’s sweet, but Ethan and I have a busy schedule today. We need to review the financial ledgers immediately."
I didn't cower. I didn't look down at my shoes, and I didn't offer a polite apology.
I stood up from behind the desk, resting my hands flat against the polished wood, looking my husband straight in the eyes with an authority he had never seen in me before.
"You are not reviewing any ledgers, Patricia," I stated, my voice completely level and calm. "And you are not taking over this hotel."
Ethan let out a sharp, condescending laugh. "Madison, stop acting like a child. You don't know the first thing about corporate management. I gave you an ultimatum last night: either you let us handle the business, or this marriage is over."
"Then the marriage is over, Ethan," I replied without a single second of hesitation.
The room went completely quiet.
Ethan blinked, his confidence cracking for the very first time. "What... what did you say?"
"I said the marriage is over," I repeated, pulling a crisp, white manila folder from the desk drawer and sliding it across the wood toward him. "These are initial divorce papers, prepared by my attorney this morning."
Patricia’s face turned an ugly shade of red. "How dare you! You ungrateful little brat! My son gave you his name! He made you a part of our family!"
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"He married me because he thought my grandmother's fortune would eventually bail your family out of bankruptcy, Patricia," I said coldly.
"And you made a massive miscalculation."
