Chapter 5 - THE GROOM'S FIRST BETRAYAL|
Ethan Whitmore had known Madison Crane for three years.
He had loved her confidence.
Her ambition.
The way she entered a room as though nothing in the world could frighten her.
Now, standing in their bridal suite, he wondered whether he had mistaken cruelty for strength.
Madison zipped a designer suitcase.
“I'm going to my mother's house.”
Ethan stood near the window.
“That's probably a good idea.”
She froze.
“Excuse me?”
“We need some space.”
Madison laughed.
“Space? We've been married less than twenty-four hours.”
“And you've spent most of those hours defending what you did.”
“I apologized!”
“You apologized for getting caught.”
Her face twisted.
“Your grandmother humiliated me.”
“She asked you to apologize to a woman you hit.”
“She made me look like some horrible person!”
Ethan looked at her quietly.
“Madison, you did that yourself.”
She grabbed a crystal perfume bottle and threw it against the wall.
It shattered.
“Do you know what I gave up to marry you?”
Ethan didn't move.
“Tell me.”
“Everything! My independence! My career opportunities! My reputation!”
Ethan frowned.
“You told me you wanted this marriage.”
“I wanted a future!”
“So did I.”
His voice softened.
“I wanted a family with you.”
For the first time, Madison looked uncomfortable.
Then her phone vibrated.
A message appeared on the screen.
Ethan saw only a few words before she turned it away.
MONDAY MEETING. NO DELAYS.
“Who's texting you?” he asked.
“Nobody.”
“Madison.”
“My mother.”
She grabbed her handbag.
Ethan stepped aside.
He wasn't going to stop her.
But as she passed, a folded document slipped from the open pocket of her suitcase.
He bent to retrieve it.
Madison lunged.
“Don't touch that!”
Too late.
Ethan unfolded the paper.
At the top were the words:
MERIDIAN CAPITAL — PROPOSED HAWTHORNE ACQUISITION
He frowned.
“What is this?”
Madison's face went white.
“It's nothing.”
“My grandmother's company?”
“Ethan, give it back.”
He scanned the next paragraph.
It described an anticipated change in controlling authority over Hawthorne Hospitality Group.
The document also referenced an expedited closing.
Scheduled for Monday.
“What change in controlling authority?” Ethan demanded.
Madison stepped toward him.
“Please. You don't understand.”
“Then explain it.”
She reached for the paper again.
Ethan pulled it away.
“Why is my grandmother's hotel listed in a sale agreement?”
Madison's eyes filled with tears.
But this time, Ethan couldn't tell whether they were genuine.
“My mother said everything was already arranged.”
“Arranged with whom?”
Madison hesitated.
Then whispered a name.
“Conrad Shaw.”
Ethan knew it immediately.
A private equity billionaire.
A ruthless investor who had spent years attempting to acquire historic luxury properties across Chicago.
Ethan looked back at the document.
“Madison, why would Conrad Shaw think he can buy my grandmother's company?”
May you like
Madison answered so quietly he almost missed it.
“Because someone told him she wouldn't be making the decision anymore.”
