But Aaron remained calm.
He stood and folded his arms.
“Mr. Stanton,” he said evenly, “I believe your wife has something important to tell you. Unfortunately, I’m here to deliver part of the message.”
Anger surged through Michael.
“Get out of my house,” he snapped, pointing toward the door. “Now. And you, Claire—you’d better start explaining.”
Claire looked up. Her eyes were red but determined.
“Michael… please listen. It’s not what you think.”
Aaron cleared his throat.
“Actually,” he said coolly, “it is exactly what you think—and more. Your wife and I have been negotiating.”
“Negotiating?” Michael repeated with disbelief. “Negotiating what? My humiliation? My divorce?”
He bent down and picked up the ring.
The diamond sparkled in the light, but it suddenly felt heavy in his hand.
Claire slowly stood and reached toward him.
He stepped back.
“It’s not about divorce,” she said quietly.
“It’s about a debt.”
Michael frowned.
“A debt? What are you talking about?”
Aaron answered instead.
“Not her debt,” he said. “Yours. More precisely—your company’s.”
Michael scoffed.
“My company is financially secure.”
Aaron shook his head.