Part 11
The next morning, the doorbell rang.
It wasn't Jason or his brother. They didn't have the address to this building.
It was a courier.
He handed me a large, heavy envelope from Robert's office.
Inside was the finalized strategy for the custody hearing, scheduled for early next week.
Jason had already attempted to contest it through his own lawyer, but his lawyer had abandoned him the moment the financial collapse became public.
A bankrupt man facing fraud allegations doesn't make a good client for a high-end firm.
Also inside the envelope was a personal note from Robert.
'Elena, Jason’s mother tried to contact my office this morning. She offered to sign a full apology and relinquishment of any future contact with Lily, provided we restore the funding to Jason's company. She claims she is losing her mind with the stress.'
I crumpled the note and threw it into the trash.
An apology given under duress is just a lie told to survive.
She wasn't sorry she hurt Lily.
She was sorry she got caught by someone who could fight back.
I walked over to the large glass window, looking out over the city.
The sun was bright, warming the glass against my palms.
Behind me, Lily was playing with her blocks, building a tall tower and then knocking it down with a loud, happy shout.
"Boom!" she cried, laughing.
"Boom," I echoed softly.
The world they had built on arrogance and cruelty had collapsed just like those blocks.
But unlike Lily's game, they wouldn't be allowed to rebuild.
I had spent years being the quiet wife.
The agreeable daughter-in-law.
The woman who swallowed her pride to keep the peace.
But they made a mistake.
They mistook my peace for weakness.
They forgot that the quietest waters are often the deepest.
And when you try to drown a child in those waters, the mother will make sure you never come back up for air.
May you like
The game was over.
And I had won before they even realized we were playing.
