Chapter 9 - THE WOMAN WHO MARRIED ME FOR MONEY
Vanessa requested a meeting.
I almost refused.
Then I agreed.
She sat across from me in the attorney's office.
Without the designer clothes, she looked smaller.
Older.
“I know you hate me.”
“I don't hate you.”
She looked surprised.
“You should.”
“You hurt my mother.”
“I know.”
“You used my name.”
“I know.”
“You tried to steal my company.”
She looked down.
“I know.”
“Then why did you marry me?”
She began crying.
“Because I thought money would make me safe.”
I said nothing.
“My father taught me that people only respected power.”
“And you believed him.”
“Yes.”
She wiped her eyes.
“When I met you, I thought you were exactly what my father wanted.”
“What?”
“An easy man to control.”
I almost laughed.
“You were wrong.”
“I know.”
She handed me a folder.
“What is this?”
“Everything I have.”
Inside were passwords.
Account information.
Names.
Private communications.
Evidence against Victor.
Evidence against Thomas.
Evidence against my grandfather.
“Why give me this?”
“Because I don't want to be like them anymore.”
I looked at her.
“You hurt my mother.”
“I know.”
“She may never forgive you.”
“I don't expect her to.”
I closed the folder.
“Then cooperate with the prosecutors.”
“I will.”
“And never contact my family again unless my mother asks.”
She nodded.
That was the end of our marriage.
No dramatic reconciliation.
No second chance.
May you like
Just the truth.
Sometimes the strongest ending is simply walking away.
