Chapter 61 Power Dynamics
Claire
By now the bank must have called Ian to inform him I’ve cut him off from the family’s finances.
Knowing him, he’ll take the bait and come storming into the house. The only thing I’m truly afraid of is what he’ll do, how he’ll react. I know damn well if he acts rudely, Max won’t stand for it. He’ll want to interfere. So I’ve done something I never thought I’d do.
They’ll be here soon. I just hope they arrive at the right time.
I sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed as the headache crept back in. I reached up to my temple and gently soothed the throbbing pain.
Today everything has been moving so fast, leaving no room to breathe.
Just then my phone rang. I glanced down. Ian.
My face twisted immediately. I can’t believe I still have him saved as “Darling.” Pathetic.
I cut the call without hesitation. If he wants to talk, he can come home and do it face-to-face. Not over the phone. He’s probably boiling over and wants to lash out, but I’m not giving him that satisfaction.
A few minutes later, while I lay on the bed trying to steady my breathing, I heard it, a loud crash from downstairs in the living room.
A slow smile crept across my face.
This is it. Not the final confrontation, but the first one in front of the kids. So they can finally see who their father really is.
I got out of bed and stepped out of my room. His voice was already ringing through the entire house like a madman.
“Claire! Come down this minute!” he screamed at the top of his lungs.
I walked down the stairs slowly. Deliberately. I wasn’t about to hurry for him.
There he was, hair messy, tie hanging crooked, looking completely tattered. I wondered why young girls would even go after him. Oh, right, maybe they think he’s some big shot.
“Yes, I’m down,” I said calmly.
Approaching footsteps. Luppy was already there, tucked quietly in the corner.
“Dad, what’s going on?” It was Isa. Max stood close beside her, already wearing that hard, watchful look as he glanced at his father.
Ian pointed straight at me, body shaking with rage.
“How dare you, Claire? Cut me off from the family finances? Are you sick in the head? Is it because I’ve been quiet all this while?”
He was breathing hard, furious. Isa let out a small gasp, her eyes flicking to me.
Then Riette appeared too.
Time to let the cat out of the bag.
“And you seem to forget something, Ian,” I said. “That money, all of this, is mine to begin with. Or do you want me to tell the kids how I picked you up from the gutter and polished you?”
More gasps filled the room.
At this point, I’m so tired. I’ll let it all out.
He looked stunned, momentarily lost for words.
“You know the kids don’t know,” I continued, shaking my head. “They think because their mom comes from a rich background, so does their father. But no.” I looked straight at him. “All the money, the properties, the businesses are you going to tell them it’s all mine?”
He moved swiftly, closing the distance between us.
“Dad—” Max started, voice low and warning.
I turned to him quickly. “Don’t. This is between me and him.”
I looked back at Ian.
“You see, Claire,” he spat, “this is the reason why I hate you. The reason I get sick every time I’m in this house.”
He thought saying he hates me would break me. Maybe the old Claire. Not this one.
“You and your family never gave me the respect I deserve,” he barked. “You all treated me like shit.”
I shook my head slowly.
“You know,” I began, voice steady, “my father always said: ‘Do not trust the loyalty of a broke man.’ I gave you every bit of respect a wife could ever give her husband. I showered you with love and care. I thought our life was going smoothly. I thought my family was perfect. But you, Ian, you shattered that. You didn’t think of me. You didn’t think of the kids when you got yourself a mistress.”
My voice rose with every word. If he thinks he’s the only one who’s pissed, I’ll let him know I am too.
He scoffed and took some steps back. His eyes darted to the children, then he pointed at me again, a stupid smile plastered on his face.
“You want to know what?” he started. “Your mother also has a lover. An extramarital affair with a much younger dude.”
He was trying to drag me down in front of them. He always thinks the fastest way to hurt me is through the kids. He’s right, but also completely ignorant.
When the kids didn’t react, when they only stared at him, that stupid smile slowly faded from his face.
Then Max spoke. I let him this time.
“So… it’s true?” he asked his father quietly. “You cheated first?”
Ian looked at him, stunned. His eyes snapped back to me.
Thank God. They were finally seeing the true colors of their father. Seeing is believing, after all.
“Whether I cheat or not, that’s none of your business,” he snapped at Max.
There he goes again, that same old defense mechanism. He doesn’t care how this affects the kids, the damage it’s doing to them. He’ll just spew nonsense, and I’m done letting him.
“Watch how you speak to them,” I said, voice low but firm.
He whipped his head toward me. “Or what?” His tone was hard, challenging.
I wasn’t playing. Not even a little.
“I’ll make your life a living hell.”
He laughed, a short, foolish bark.
“I knew it, Claire. That you’d turn my kids against me. That’s how scheming you are.” He pointed at me again. “And I haven’t forgotten why I’m here. You’ll give me back access to the family funds.”
He said it like the money had always been his to begin with.
Nothing people think Ian owns was ever truly his. As my husband, I gave him every leverage, every account, every property, every decision. He was the head of the household, my husband. No one suspected a thing about his background, who he really was before he married me. That’s how much respect and trust I handed him on a silver platter.
I can’t believe love blinded me so completely. I was ready to transfer everything, all my assets, straight into his name as the owner.
If it weren’t for my father and Mr. Richards sitting me down, warning me to think twice, that people change… I laughed it off back then. I thought I knew him better than anyone. Turns out I knew nothing. Absolutely nothing.
“That won’t be possible,” I said calmly. “The only thing you’ll be receiving from me are divorce papers.”
His eyes widened. He actually took a step back.
“And you’ll be leaving with nothing, Ian. But if you act like a good boy, I might consider giving you something small.”
The next second he was charging at me, face twisted in fury.
Where are those guys?
Just then the living-room door burst open.
He froze mid-step.
Max, who had already started moving toward us, stopped.
Isa gasped, hand flying to her mouth.
Riette shot up from the stairs he’d been sitting on.
We all turned.
Men in dark suits walked in, calm, professional, no nonsense.
Surprise registered on every face in the room.
I looked straight at them and gave the order.
“Get this man off my property.”
I had called the bodyguard agency earlier. Told them I needed a few men, fast.
And they indeed moved without hesitation.