Chapter 2: Overnight Collapse
Chapter 2: Overnight Collapse
At 2:13 a.m., #ProtectClaire became the number one trending topic in twelve countries.
By sunrise, the livestream had been translated into fourteen languages.
By breakfast...
Grant's phone wouldn't stop ringing.
He ignored the first call.
Then the second.
Then the twentieth.
Finally, his Chief Financial Officer called from another number.
"You need to answer."
Grant rubbed his temples.
"What?"
"The board wants an emergency meeting."
"They can wait."
"They already voted."
Grant sat upright.
"What?"
"The independent directors have suspended you as CEO pending an ethics investigation."
His stomach dropped.
"They can't."
"They already did."
He opened social media.
His face filled every screen.
Not smiling.
Not giving interviews.
Not announcing new products.
Instead—
Frame after frame showed him ripping apart the maternity dress of his pregnant wife.
Another clip showed Sabrina whispering cruelly into Claire's ear.
Millions of comments flooded beneath it.
Monster.
Abuser.
Boycott Waverly Pacific Foods.
Within six hours, the company's stock had fallen twenty-three percent.
Major grocery chains suspended negotiations.
International distributors demanded explanations.
Even charities returned donations.
Grant stared blankly at the numbers.
"This..."
He whispered.
"...is impossible."
Across town, Claire sat quietly in a hospital room while nurses monitored the baby's heartbeat.
Steady.
Strong.
Melanie smiled.
"The baby's okay."
Claire finally allowed herself to cry.
Not because of Grant.
Not because of the dress.
May you like
Because for the first time in years—
Someone had believed her.
