“Ava! Please!” he begged. “Tell them it’s a misunderstanding! Tell them I never hurt you! We can fix this! I love you! Think about our son!”
I stared at him.
“You told me I was nothing without you,” I said calmly. “So now let’s see what you are without stolen money, without your mother, and without your lies.”
His face collapsed.
Not from guilt.
From disbelief.
Men like Nathaniel never believe consequences are real until the handcuffs touch their wrists.
He was dragged into the night.
Margaret tried one last performance, pressing a hand to her chest and turning to the police.
“She is manipulating all of you,” she gasped. “My son is respected. This girl is sick.”
Rebecca handed a sealed folder to the detective.
“These are notarized statements from two former girlfriends, one former assistant, and the private doctor Mrs. Mercer bribed to falsify Ava’s medical history.”
Margaret stopped breathing for a second.
