Chapter 5 - The Final SeveringRyan dropped his briefcase. It hit the floor with a heavy, hollow thud.
For a moment, he tried to salvage the wreckage with charm, taking a step toward me with his hands raised pleadingly. “Emma, please. Let’s talk about this. We can fix this. I made mistakes, I know I did, but divorce? Kicking us out into the street? We’ve been married for six years!”
“Six years,” I repeated, looking him dead in the eye. “Six years of paying your bills, funding your lifestyle, listening to your mother belittle me, and pretending I didn't see the contempt in both of your eyes.”
I motioned to Daniel, who stood up and handed Ryan a thick manila envelope.
“What is this?” Ryan asked, his hands shaking as he pulled out the papers.
“Divorce petition, immediate asset disassociation, corporate restraining orders, and a demand for full restitution of embezzled funds,” Daniel recited professionally. “You have forty-eight hours to clear your personal belongings out of this estate and out of your commercial office space downtown. Any attempt to access company accounts or contact Mrs. Scott directly will result in an immediate felony warrant.”
Ryan looked down at the papers, then looked up at me, realizing there was no negotiation, no second chance, and no way out. The parasite had been cut off from the host, and the host was taking back everything.
At that exact moment, the grand staircase creaked.
Carol walked down carrying two heavy designer luggage bags, her hair slightly disheveled, her face tight with humiliated fury. She stopped at the bottom of the steps, glaring daggers at me.
“You’ll regret this, Emma,” Carol spat venomously, her voice shaking with rage. “You’re a cold, heartless bitch, and you’ll die alone in this empty house!”
“Maybe,” I replied calmly, walking over to the front door and pulling it wide open, letting the cool evening breeze flood into the foyer. “But at least I’ll be doing it with my own money, in my own house, with a clean thermometer.”
May you like
Ryan, carrying his briefcase, hung his head in absolute defeat, walking past me out the front door toward his car. Carol followed close behind him, muttering curses under her breath as the security guards escorted them off the property.
I watched them walk down the driveway until their car taillights faded into the distance.
