Chapter 7 - THE SMEAR CAMPAIGN
Vanessa didn't wait for the court date to strike.
Three weeks before the custody hearing, an explosive article dropped in a major tabloid: BILLIONAIRE TYRANT: NATHAN CALDWELL’S SECRET DOUBLE LIFE.
The article was a masterpiece of lies. Vanessa had painted herself as the devoted, loving stepmother who was brutally thrown out into the snow by a manic, abusive husband. She claimed Nathan had lost his mind due to work stress, that he was isolating the children from her out of jealousy, and that he was an unfit parent who barely knew his kids' middle names.
The fallout was instantaneous. Caldwell Systems’ stock dipped by 8%. Nathan’s board of directors called an emergency meeting, panicking over the PR nightmare.
"You need to settle, Nathan," his COO pleaded over a video call. "Pay her the fifty million she wants. Make this go away before the shareholders vote to remove you."
Nathan sat in his home office, staring at the screen. Through the open door, he could hear the faint sound of Sarah playing the piano in the living room, the four girls giggling as they tried to hit the keys.
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"I am not negotiating with a terrorist," Nathan said, his voice steel. "Let the stock dip. The company is strong; it will recover. But if I pay that woman a single dime, I validate her lies. I will not teach my daughters that bullies get rewarded."
He hung up on the board. He walked out into the living room, leaning against the doorframe to watch Sarah and the girls. Sarah looked up, sensing his presence. She offered a comforting, knowing smile that told him she had seen the news, and she didn't believe a word of it. For the first time in his life, Nathan realized he didn't care what the world thought of him. He only cared about the five people in this room.
