Chapter 5 - Arthur Caldwell’s Last Cruel Move
Arthur’s downfall became national news.
The affair.
The forged signatures.
The offshore accounts.
The board suspension.
But none of it mattered to Clara as much as the court hearing scheduled for Monday.
Temporary custody protections.
Arthur intended to fight.
Evelyn entered Dominic’s study carrying bad news.
“Arthur filed a petition.”
Clara stiffened.
“For what?”
“He claims Dominic represents a danger to your unborn child.”
Dominic leaned against the desk.
“That was predictable.”
Evelyn continued.
“He’s portraying Clara as emotionally unstable and claiming she abandoned the marital home to live with an organized crime figure.”
Clara looked at Dominic.
“This is what he wanted.”
“Yes.”
Dominic’s expression was unreadable.
“I’ll leave.”
Clara stared.
“What?”
“I’ll move you somewhere else.”
“No.”
“Clara—”
“You promised choices.”
“I did.”
“Then don’t make one for me.”
Dominic went quiet.
Clara turned to Evelyn.
“What do we do?”
“We show the judge why you left.”
“The video?”
“The video. Messages. Financial threats. Witnesses.”
Dominic added, “And I won’t attend.”
Clara looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because Monday should be about Arthur’s behavior, not my reputation.”
She understood.
It was the right decision.
Somehow, that made it hurt more.
Sunday night, Clara found Dominic on the balcony.
“You’re avoiding me.”
“No.”
“You’re terrible at lying.”
“I’m excellent at lying.”
“Not to me.”
Dominic looked toward Central Park.
She stood beside him.
“Are you worried about tomorrow?”
“No.”
“Another lie.”
He exhaled.
“I’m worried my presence makes your life harder.”
“Sometimes it does.”
He looked at her.
Clara smiled faintly.
“But my husband made my life smaller. There’s a difference.”
Dominic said nothing.
She continued.
“You never told me what happened to your hand.”
“The gala?”
“Yes.”
“I broke a glass.”
“Because of Arthur?”
Dominic nodded.
“You were that angry?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
His gaze met hers.
“Because he made you cry and enjoyed it.”
Clara swallowed.
“Dominic…”
“I know this is complicated.”
“That might be the understatement of the century.”
“I’m not asking for anything.”
She studied him.
“That may be the first reason I trust you.”
Monday’s hearing lasted three hours.
Arthur entered with six attorneys.
Clara entered with Evelyn.
When the judge reviewed Arthur’s text messages, his expression hardened.
When video of the gala played, the room fell silent.
Arthur’s attorney stood.
“My client acknowledges his words were inappropriate.”
Clara whispered to Evelyn:
“Inappropriate?”
Evelyn touched her hand.
“Wait.”
The attorney continued.
“However, Mrs. Caldwell is currently residing in property controlled by Dominic Castillion, a man with alleged organized crime ties.”
The judge looked toward Clara.
“Mrs. Caldwell, why are you staying there?”
Clara stood.
“Because after my husband publicly humiliated me, threatened to take my child and grabbed me when I tried to leave, Mr. Castillion provided a secure place to stay.”
Arthur shouted:
“She’s sleeping with him!”
The courtroom erupted.
The judge struck his gavel.
“Mr. Caldwell!”
Arthur stood.
“She planned this!”
Clara stared at him.
“No, Arthur.”
Her voice was steady.
“You planned everything.”
Evelyn placed the forged documents before the court.
Then the investigator’s emails.
Then Arthur’s strategy discussing Clara’s inheritance and future custody.
The judge read for several minutes.
Arthur stopped shouting.
By the end of the hearing, temporary protections were granted to Clara.
Arthur was ordered not to contact her directly.
Outside the courthouse, reporters surrounded her.
“Mrs. Caldwell!”
“Are you dating Dominic Castillion?”
“Did Mr. Castillion destroy your husband’s company?”
Clara stopped.
Evelyn whispered:
“You don’t have to answer.”
Clara looked into the cameras.
“No one destroyed Arthur Caldwell’s life except Arthur Caldwell.”
The crowd quieted.
“And Dominic Castillion did not rescue me.”
She paused.
“He reminded me that I could rescue myself.”
Across the street, inside a black car, Dominic heard every word.
Dante glanced at him.
“You’re smiling.”
“No, I’m not.”
“You absolutely are.”
“Drive.”
That evening, Clara returned to find the apartment unusually dark.
“Dominic?”
No response.
Then she heard a violin.
Her violin.
She followed the music into the large sitting room.
Dominic stood beside an open case.
The instrument had belonged to her grandmother.
Clara stopped breathing.
“Where did you get that?”
“Arthur put several of your belongings into storage.”
“You broke into it?”
“I prefer ‘retrieved.’”
“Dominic.”
“Fine. Lawyers retrieved it.”
She walked toward the violin.
Her fingers trembled as she touched the wood.
“I thought Arthur sold it.”
“He tried.”
Tears filled her eyes.
Dominic stepped back.
“Play.”
“I haven’t played publicly in two years.”
“There’s no audience.”
“You’re here.”
“I can leave.”
Clara looked at him.
“No.”
She lifted the violin.
The first note shook.
The second did not.
Dominic stood completely still.
When she finished, tears were running down Clara’s cheeks.
Dominic whispered:
“That’s the woman I remember.”
Clara lowered the instrument.
“No.”
She smiled through her tears.
“That woman was afraid.”
She looked at him.
“This one isn’t.”
The peaceful moment ended when Dante entered.
“Boss.”
Dominic turned.
“What happened?”
Dante looked toward Clara.
“Arthur disappeared.”
Clara’s smile vanished.
Dominic asked, “Where?”
“We don’t know.”
Then Dante handed him a phone.
“There’s one more thing.”
A photograph appeared.
It showed Arthur outside Clara’s obstetrician’s office.
Taken that morning.
Dominic’s expression turned deadly.
Clara whispered:
“He knows where my doctor is.”
Dominic looked at Dante.
“Find him.”
This time Clara did not object.
May you like
Because Arthur was no longer fighting for money.
He was coming for control.
