Chapter 5 - The Morning After
Chloe awoke at seven o'clock the following morning to the soft light of dawn filtering through the heavy linen curtains.
For a brief second, she experienced the familiar, crushing knot of panic that had accompanied every morning of her marriage—the immediate dread of wondering what mood Derek would be in, whether he would comment on her weight, or if he would drop another casual cruelty before leaving for the office.
Then she smelled the scent of rich espresso and fresh bread. She looked around the vast, elegant bedroom, saw the crackling embers of the fireplace, and remembered where she was.
She was safe.
A soft knock came at the door.
“Chloe, my dear?” Maria’s warm voice carried through the wood. “May I come in?”
“Yes, please,” Chloe said, sitting up in the comfortable bed.
Maria pushed the door open, carrying a silver tray bearing a pot of hot tea, fresh croissants, sliced berries, and a tall glass of fresh orange juice.
“Good morning,” Maria said brightly, setting the tray over Chloe’s lap. “Did you sleep well?”
“Better than I have in months,” Chloe admitted, taking a sip of the orange juice. “Thank you, Maria. This is wonderful.”
“Mr. Moretti has already left for an early meeting,” Maria explained, smoothing the duvet. “But he left instructions that you are to rest today. A wardrobe consultant from Bergdorf’s will be arriving at ten o'clock with a selection of clothes for you, and Mr. Moretti’s attorney, Mr. Vance, will be here at eleven to go over some documents.”
Chloe paused, her teacup halfway to her lips. “A wardrobe consultant?”
Maria smiled warmly. “Mr. Moretti noted that you left the hotel without your belongings. He wanted to make sure you had everything you needed to feel comfortable.”
Chloe felt a lump form in her throat. Derek had spent four years controlling her wardrobe, constantly critiquing her choices to ensure she fit his image of a corporate trophy wife, yet he had never once considered her comfort. Dominic had known her for less than twelve hours and was already ensuring every physical need was anticipated.
By ten o'clock, two young women from Bergdorf Goodman arrived, wheeling three garment racks filled with elegant, high-end maternity clothes—soft cashmere sweaters, perfectly tailored silk blouses, comfortable trousers, and a stunning tailored wool coat.
By eleven, Chloe was dressed in a soft cream-colored knit dress that draped comfortably over her bump, her dark hair brushed and tied back, feeling more like herself than she had in years.
Leo Vance arrived precisely at eleven o'clock, carrying a thin leather briefcase.
Maria showed him into the small sunroom off the main parlor, where Chloe was waiting.
“Good morning, Mrs. Bennett,” Leo said, bowing his head politely as he sat across from her at the glass table. “I’m Leo Vance, Mr. Moretti’s chief legal counsel.”
“Hello, Mr. Vance,” Chloe said. “Please, call me Chloe.”
“Very well, Chloe,” Leo said, opening his briefcase and laying out three neat stacks of legal documents. “I’ll keep this brief and clear. At eight o'clock this morning, I delivered an emergency settlement proposal to your husband’s attorney.”
Chloe leaned forward, her heart beating slightly faster. “How did he react?”
Leo allowed himself a brief, dry smile. “His attorney spent ten minutes reviewing the evidence of financial fraud we attached to the draft. Derek Bennett signed every single document by nine-fifteen.”
Chloe blinked in shock. “He signed them already?”
“He had no choice,” Leo explained calmly. “The alternative was federal indictment by noon today. Under the terms of the emergency agreement, Derek has executed a quitclaim deed transferring sole, unencumbered ownership of your Manhattan townhouse directly to you.”
Leo pushed the first document toward her.
“Furthermore, he has agreed to an immediate, uncontested divorce on the grounds of irretrievable breakdown. He has waived all claims to your personal property, agreed to pay two hundred thousand dollars in legal fees, and signed over full legal custody of your daughter, with supervised visitation rights subject to court approval.”
Chloe stared at the papers. For months, Derek had used the legal system as a weapon, threatening to drag out a divorce for years until she was completely bankrupt and broken. In less than three hours, Dominic Moretti’s legal team had dismantled Derek’s entire position.
“Is... is this real?” Chloe whispered, her fingers touching the crisp white paper.
“It is entirely legal and legally binding,” Leo assured her. “The deeds are currently being recorded with the city registrar. By this afternoon, the townhouse is officially yours. Derek has been given until five o'clock today to remove his personal belongings under the supervision of my security detail.”
Chloe let out a long, shaky breath, tears of pure relief brimming in her eyes. “I don't know what to say.”
“You don't need to say anything, Chloe,” Leo said gently. “Mr. Moretti also instructed me to establish a private family trust in your daughter’s name. He has personally seeded the trust with a five-million-dollar fund to ensure her education and healthcare are permanently secured, regardless of any future civil litigation involving your husband’s company.”
Chloe stood up so fast her chair scraped against the tile floor. “Five million dollars? No... no, I can't accept that! That is far too much! I can't take his money!”
The sunroom doors opened quietly behind them.
Dominic Moretti stepped into the room. He was wearing a dark charcoal suit, his dark hair neatly styled, looking cool, composed, and entirely in control.
“It is not your money, Chloe,” Dominic said smoothly, his deep voice filling the bright room. “It is your daughter’s.”
Leo immediately gathered his papers, bowed to Dominic, and quietly stepped out of the sunroom, closing the glass doors behind him.
Chloe turned to face Dominic, her heart pounding. “Dominic, this is insane. You’ve already saved me from Derek. You’ve given me back my home and my freedom. I cannot allow you to put five million dollars into a trust for my child!”
Dominic walked slowly across the sunroom, stopping two feet away from her. He looked down at her face, his dark eyes filled with an undeniable, fierce protectiveness.
“Your father protected my future when everyone else in this city considered me a pariah,” Dominic said quietly. “I am simply balancing an old ledger.”
“A two-million-dollar business loan twenty years ago does not equal five million dollars and a townhouse!” Chloe countered, her voice rising slightly.
Dominic’s lip twitched into a subtle smile. “With interest and inflation, I assure you my calculations are entirely accurate.”
He took a step closer, looking down at her rounded stomach. “Besides, that baby girl deserves a life entirely free from her father’s failures. That trust ensures Derek Bennett can never use money to manipulate her the way he manipulated you.”
Chloe looked into his dark eyes, searching for any sign of hidden motive, any hidden catch. But all she found was absolute sincerity and a quiet, uncompromising strength.
“Why are you really doing this, Dominic?” she asked softy.
May you like
Dominic reached out, his long fingers gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His touch was warm, sending a strange, thrilling shiver down her spine.
“Because,” Dominic murmured, his voice dropping into a low, intimate register, “the moment I saw you in that hallway, standing tall against a man who didn't deserve to breathe the same air as you, I decided that no one was ever going to hurt you again.”
