Chapter 9 - The Ultimatum
Sterling slid a single, thin folder across the polished table toward her.
"What is this?" Rebecca sobbed, refusing to touch the paper.
"This is your new reality," Sterling said coldly.
"Inside is a revised divorce settlement."
"You get zero alimony, you get no claim to the house, and you keep only the money currently in your personal checking account."
"You will also sign a legally binding Non-Disclosure Agreement."
"You will immediately delete your Facebook post, and you will post a retraction stating that you lied about David and Evelyn."
Rebecca shook her head frantically.
"I can't do that!"
"If I admit I lied, my real estate firm will fire me!"
"My reputation will be ruined!"
I leaned over the table, getting right into her personal space.
"Your reputation is already dead, Rebecca."
"You have two choices right now."
"Choice A: You sign those papers, you walk away with absolutely nothing, and you disappear."
"Choice B: I walk out of this office, drive straight to the police station, and hand them this flash drive."
"You will be arrested for felony assault on an elderly person."
"You will go to prison."
She looked at me, searching my eyes for any ounce of mercy, any trace of the man who used to love her.
She found absolutely nothing.
Her hands shook violently as she reached for the silver pen resting on the table.
She didn't read the documents; she just flipped to the back page and signed her name with a jerky, erratic scrawl.
She signed the NDA, the property waiver, and the immediate divorce decree.
When she finished, she pushed the folder back toward Sterling.
"Are you happy now?" she whispered, her voice utterly broken.
"Happiness has nothing to do with it," I replied coldly.
"It's about justice for my mother."
"Now get out."
She stood up slowly, grabbing her expensive designer purse.
She didn't say another word as she walked out of the office, looking like a hollow shell of the arrogant woman who had walked in an hour ago.
Sterling picked up the paperwork, checking the signatures.
"Ironclad," he announced with a satisfied grin.
"She is legally erased from your life, my friend."
I let out a massive breath, feeling the crushing weight of the past few weeks finally lift off my chest.
I shook Sterling's hand, thanked him for his brilliant work, and walked out of the building.
The storm clouds outside had broken, letting a few rays of bright sunshine pierce through the gray.
I pulled out my phone and called my mother.
May you like
"Hey, Mom," I smiled into the receiver.
"It's over."
