Chapter 5 - The Deal That Could Save Our MarriageVance returned to Manhattan that evening.
He didn't bring flowers.
He didn't bring jewelry.
He didn't bring his mother.
He walked into the penthouse carrying one suitcase.
Nothing else.
He placed it near the door.
"I'm leaving."
I looked up.
"Where?"
"I don't know."
"You can stay with Connor."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I need to learn how to live without depending on anyone."
I studied him.
For once, he wasn't wearing a designer suit.
He wore jeans.
A plain white shirt.
And the old watch I had given him on our first anniversary.
"Why are you wearing that?"
He touched it.
"Because it's the one thing you gave me that wasn't about money."
I looked away.
He sat down.
"I talked to Connor."
"I know."
"I asked him to sell the mansion."
I looked at him.
"He refused."
"So I told him I'm cutting him off."
"That's difficult."
"He can build his own life."
I nodded.
"Good."
He swallowed.
"I also confronted Mom."
"And?"
"I asked for every financial statement."
"And?"
"She couldn't give me one."
I said nothing.
He looked at me.
"I was wrong."
"Yes."
"I hurt you."
"Yes."
"I humiliated you."
"Yes."
"I made you feel like you weren't important."
I looked at him.
"You made me feel replaceable."
His eyes filled with tears.
"I know."
He stood.
"I don't expect you to forgive me."
"Good."
He nodded.
"I only want the chance to become someone worthy of forgiveness."
That sentence stayed with me.
Not because it was beautiful.
Because it was the first honest thing he'd said in months.
The following morning, Vance resigned from his executive position.
He sold his sports car.
He returned several watches.
He moved into a small apartment in Queens.
And he found a new job.
Not glamorous.
Not prestigious.
But his.
His salary was seven thousand dollars a month.
For the first time in years, he kept every dollar he earned.
He paid his own rent.
His own groceries.
His own bills.
He started sending money to me for the baby.
Not because I needed it.
Because he wanted to contribute.
I didn't accept all of it.
But I didn't reject the gesture.
Meanwhile, Beatrice became furious.
She called me every day.
I blocked her.
She called Vance.
He stopped answering.
Then she showed up at the penthouse.
Security refused to let her upstairs.
She screamed in the lobby.
"I am his mother!"
The security guard replied calmly.
"Not the owner."
That sentence spread through the building.
By the end of the week, everyone knew.
The woman Beatrice had called a parasite owned the penthouse.
The woman she had mocked owned half the block.
And the son she had controlled had finally stopped paying her bills.
But Beatrice wasn't finished.
She hired a lawyer.
Then she filed a claim against the penthouse.
Her argument was absurd.
She claimed Vance had contributed financially to the property.
She wanted a percentage.
When Daniel told me, I laughed.
"Let her try."
The court date was scheduled.
And that's when I discovered something unexpected.
Vance had been subpoenaed.
His mother wanted him to testify against me.
Daniel looked concerned.
"She may try to manipulate him."
I nodded.
"Let her."
"You're confident?"
"No."
I looked toward the nursery.
"I'm just finally confident in myself."
The hearing arrived two weeks later.
Beatrice entered the courtroom wearing an expensive cream suit.
She looked victorious.
Vance walked in behind her.
He didn't look at me.
The judge called the case.
Beatrice's attorney stood.
"Your Honor, my client believes the marital property was substantially funded by her son."
Daniel stood.
"We have bank records proving otherwise."
The judge looked toward Vance.
"Mr. Caldwell, will you testify?"
Vance stood.
He walked toward the witness box.
He raised his hand.
"I will."
Beatrice smiled.
She thought her son would finally choose her.
Again.
May you like
She had no idea that this time...
he was going to tell the truth.
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