Chapter 14 - The Last Chance Brianna Had
Brian met Brianna one final time before deciding whether to file for divorce.
He asked me to come.
I almost refused.
Then I realized I wanted one thing from her.
Not money.
Not humiliation.
The truth without explanation attached to it.
We met at the villa.
I had not entered the kitchen since the attack.
The basin was gone.
The floor had been professionally cleaned.
Still, I could smell rotten meat in my memory.
Brianna stood near the island.
She looked smaller somehow.
Brian asked, “Did Mom ever attack you?”
“No.”
“Did she throw that basin?”
Brianna closed her eyes.
“No.”
“Was she confused about the transfers?”
“No.”
Brian’s jaw tightened.
“Did you intentionally make people think she was?”
A long silence.
“Yes.”
I felt Megan beside me shift.
Brian continued.
“Why?”
Brianna looked at me.
“Because if Helen was right about the money, everything I had hidden would come out.”
No excuses that time.
No stress.
No misunderstanding.
Brian looked toward the staircase.
Their wedding portrait still hung on the landing.
Then he removed his house key.
He placed it on the counter.
“I’ll have my attorney contact yours.”
Brianna’s mouth opened.
“Brian.”
He did not answer.
I did.
“I hope someday you understand that admitting failure would have cost you a business.”
She looked at me.
“What you chose instead cost you your family.”
May you like
Brian walked out.
This time, I went with my son.
