Chapter 5 - The Aftermath in Paradise
Ethan stood frozen in the center of the ruined hotel room, surrounded by scattered clothes, broken glass, and the remnants of his shattered ambitions. The man who had strutted through the resort lobby twenty-four hours earlier like an untouchable king now looked like a ghost haunting an abandoned ruin.
He slowly sank down onto the edge of the king-sized bed, burying his face in his trembling hands.
I didn't feel triumph. I didn't feel anger. I felt only a vast, liberating emptiness—the kind of clean slate that appears when a wildfire burns away dead brush, leaving fertile soil for something new to grow.
“What am I supposed to do?” Ethan mumbled into his palms, his voice breaking into ragged sobs. “My career... my reputation... the board will crucify me.”
“Your career at Caldwell Global was terminated by unanimous board vote twenty minutes ago,” I said, checking my watch. “Marcus Thorne has already assumed interim control of operations, and our legal team is preparing a public statement regarding your embezzlement of corporate funds for personal enrichment.”
Ethan’s head snapped up, his eyes bloodshot and wild. “Embezzlement? Clara, you can't send me to prison! I’m your husband!”
“You were my husband,” I corrected gently. “Now you’re just a defendant.”
I turned toward the door, my hand resting on the brass handle.
“Lucas has arranged a standard economy seat on the redeye flight back to Seattle tonight,” I added, not looking back. “Your personal belongings from the master closet have already been packed into two cardboard boxes and left with resort security. I suggest you pack your bags before hotel management evicts you for non-payment.”
“Clara—wait!” Ethan scrambled off the bed, stumbling forward. “Please! Just one more chance! Let’s talk about this!”
I pushed the door open, stepping out into the warm Hawaiian sunlit hallway. “Goodbye, Ethan.”
The heavy mahogany door clicked shut behind me, sealing him inside his own private purgatory.
Downstairs in the open-air lobby, Lucas was waiting by the concierge desk, holding a fresh glass of iced hibiscus tea. When he saw me walking across the polished stone floor, he raised an eyebrow.
“Done?” he asked.
“Done,” I said, sliding into the leather chair beside him and taking the glass of tea from his hand.
Lucas let out a long, slow breath, a massive weight visibly lifting from his shoulders. “Well. That certainly beats a quiet weekend of golf.”
May you like
“Indeed it does,” I smiled, taking a refreshing sip of the tart, floral drink. “Now, how fast can we get a flight booked to Maui? I hear the road to Hana is lovely this time of year, and I finally have some free time on my calendar.”
Lucas grinned, pulling out his tablet. “Consider it done, boss.”
