Chapter 2 - AFTERMATH OF THE STORM
By the next morning, the fallout from the wedding shattered San Francisco’s financial news.
The headline of the Bay Area Chronicle read: "The Cold Heart of Derek Callahan: Exposed by the Child He Abandoned."
In Julian’s penthouse, I sat by the floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the San Francisco Bay, sipping warm tea. The triplets played quietly in a play area Julian had custom-built for them the previous week.
"You handled that brilliantly, Clara," Julian said, placing a folder on the coffee table. "Callahan Group's stock dropped 14% within the first two hours of trading this morning. Investors dislike CEOs with severe moral liabilities."
I looked at the plummeting red numbers on his tablet screen. "I didn't do it for revenge, Julian. I just wanted him to face the reality of what he did."
Three years ago, when I learned I was pregnant with triplets, Derek had coldly instructed me to "reduce two" to save costs and preserve our social image. When I refused, he teamed up with ruthless attorneys, hid our shared liquid assets in offshore shell companies, and left me with shared credit card debt and an eviction notice.
If not for my maternal drive and self-respect, I would have collapsed. And if I hadn't met Julian two years ago—when I submitted an architectural design proposal to his firm—I would never have stood on such solid ground today.
Meanwhile, at the Callahan Group headquarters, chaos reigned.
Derek threw glass decor against his mahogany walls, screaming at his frantic assistants. "Cancel the press conference! Take those articles down!"
"We can't, sir," his assistant stammered. "Julian Whitmore's fund just bought 8% of our floating shares and publicly demanded an independent audit into your offshore transfers from three years ago."
Derek sank into his chair, cold sweat dripping down his forehead. Julian wasn't just protecting me; he was methodically dismantling Derek’s illegitimate empire.
Suddenly, Derek's phone rang. It was Savannah.
"Derek, we need to talk," Savannah said, her tone icy and devoid of affection. "My father said marrying you is a public relations nightmare for Pierce Enterprises. My lawyers are filing for an annulment this afternoon."
"Savannah! You can't do this! We just got married last night!" Derek yelled.
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"A wedding where you became the laughingstock of the city?" Savannah sneered. "You're a liability, Derek. And I don't invest in liabilities."
The line went dead. Derek slumped over his desk, realizing that the gilded life he had sacrificed his family for was crumbling overnight.
