“I have more than you think, Martin,” Daniel said.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a leather wallet.

He did not pull out a beat-up debit card.

He pulled out a sleek, black titanium card.

Then he took out a heavy gold signet ring with the Whitaker Construction emblem.

He placed it next to the divorce papers.

Claire gasped, her eyes widening.

“Where did you get that?” she whispered.

“I bought it,” Daniel said.

“Along with the building your father works in.”

Martin stood up so fast his whiskey spilled onto the rug.

“What kind of joke is this?” Martin demanded.

“You’re a contractor’s assistant.”

“I am the founder and sole owner of Whitaker Construction,” Daniel said.

His voice was steady and powerful.

“I built the company from nothing before I met Claire.”

“I played the part of the struggling handyman because I wanted to see if you loved me, Claire.”

“Or if you just loved my money.”

Claire stumbled backward, her hand flying to her mouth.

“No,” she muttered. “That’s impossible.”

“Ethan Brooks is the CEO.”

Daniel shook his head.

“Ethan is my chief operating officer,” Daniel said.

“He runs the public operations.”

“I run the board.”

Martin’s face went pale.

“You’re lying,” Martin said, though his voice trembled.

Daniel pulled out his phone and pressed a button on the speaker.

It rang once.

“Ethan,” Daniel said.

“Yes, Mr. Whitaker?” Ethan’s voice came through the speaker.

“I need you to freeze all pending transfers for the Collins account,” Daniel said.

“Immediately.”

“Right away, sir,” Ethan replied.

The call ended.

The room went entirely silent except for the crackle of the fireplace.

Martin sank back into his chair, his hands shaking.

Daniel looked at my mother.

“I was ready to give you the world, Claire,” he said.

“But then I started looking into the company’s books.”

He pointed at Martin.