That night, I finally answered one of his calls.
“Clara… this was unnecessary.”
His voice had changed. The confidence was gone.
“No,” I said calmly. “It was legal.”
Silence.
“You could have waited.”
“You could have paid for your wedding yourself.”
He exhaled sharply.
“The company is still mine too.”
I almost smiled.
There it was.
“The company belongs to the partnership,” I replied. “And per the agreement you signed… I have financial control until the audit is complete.”
A pause.
“What audit?”
“The one starting Monday.”
For months, I had been preparing.
Collecting documents.
Tracking irregular spending.
Not to destroy him—but to protect what was left.
“Clara… we can fix this.”
I let out a quiet laugh.
“It’s always been like this,” I said. “The difference is, now you feel it.”
And I hung up.
Over the next few days, reality unfolded quickly.
Suppliers started contacting me directly.
Some contracts were on the verge of collapse.
Ethan had made promises the company couldn’t afford.
While he planned a luxury wedding, the business had been sinking.
I stepped in.
Cut unnecessary expenses.
Renegotiated deals.
Spoke personally with clients.
“We’re restructuring,” I told them.
Some were surprised.
Others… relieved.