Chapter 8 - The ConsequencesThe investigation lasted four months.
My father's accounts were frozen.
My mother's luxury cards were canceled.
Natalie faced charges for assault and fraud.
My father faced multiple financial charges.
The evidence was overwhelming.
The worst discovery came from Natalie's phone.
Messages showed that she had deliberately withheld food from Clara.
She had taken photographs of the storage room.
She had joked about Toby being hungry.
One message read:
Maybe Andrew will finally understand that his wife isn't worth protecting.
When I read it, I felt sick.
Clara refused to read the rest.
She didn't need to.
The truth was already enough.
The court eventually ordered restitution.
My family had to repay everything they had taken.
Some of their property was sold.
Natalie received probation after agreeing to a rehabilitation program and full restitution.
My father was sentenced for the financial crimes.
My mother received a reduced sentence because she cooperated with investigators.
It wasn't the ending I had imagined.
There was no celebration.
No cheering.
Just silence.
One evening, Clara asked me:
“Do you feel better?”
I thought about it.
“No.”
She looked surprised.
“I thought you would.”
“I don't feel better because they suffered.”
“What do you feel?”
I looked at our sleeping son.
“Safe.”
She smiled.
“That counts.”
I nodded.
May you like
“Yes.”
It did.
