Chapter 5 - THE HUSBAND WHO LEFTCaleb Mercer saw the photograph online before breakfast.
MARIS ELLINGTON RETURNS TO SEABROOK CROWN.
Below the headline was a blurry image from the gala.
Maris in a black replacement dress.
Eden in her arms.
August Ellington beside them.
Caleb stared.
He had not seen August near Maris in eight years.
He zoomed in.
Eden.
His daughter.
He had seen her only twice in the last year.
By his own choice.
He told people Maris made access difficult.
That was easier than admitting he repeatedly canceled visits.
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
He ignored it.
Another notification appeared.
ELLINGTON HEIRESS REEMERGES AFTER YEARS AWAY.
He laughed bitterly.
Heiress.
Maris hated that word.
Caleb had once told her he did too.
That was before he understood what an inheritance like hers could do.
He opened his banking app.
Balance:
$4,811.
Debt:
Much more.
His latest business venture had collapsed.
Two investors threatened suit.
His landlord had sent a late notice.
Caleb looked again at the article.
August’s net worth estimates filled the page.
Billions.
He knew estimates exaggerated private fortunes.
He also knew Ellington money was real.
Very real.
He sent Maris a text.
Saw the news. Hope you and Eden are okay.
No response.
He waited.
Then:
She looked beautiful.
Still nothing.
Finally:
We should talk about Eden.
Maris replied three minutes later.
We should have talked about Eden every time you canceled.
Caleb stared.
Then typed:
I want to fix things.
The response came quickly.
Start by showing up Saturday at 10 like you already agreed.
No argument.
No invitation.
No mention of August.
Caleb smiled slowly.
Maris thought the conversation was about parenting.
Maybe it should have been.
But survival had a way of changing priorities.
He opened another article.
A photograph of Genevieve Rothwell standing near Julian Ellington.
Caleb recognized Genevieve.
Everyone in certain circles did.
Rothwell Resorts.
Rothwell Maritime.
Rothwell Development.
Rich enough to matter.
Not rich enough to stop wanting Ellington approval.
Caleb did not know her.
Yet.
But he knew how these worlds worked.
May you like
People who felt threatened often needed information.
And he possessed eight years of Maris Ellington’s private history.
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