Chapter 5 - Cracks in the Foundation
Three months passed. The viral storm had settled into a low, simmering hum, but the damage was permanent. Thanks to Eleanor's mentorship, I was thriving. The new salary allowed me to move Leo and me into a beautiful, secure townhome in a much better school district.
Liam, on the other hand, was drowning.
Through the family grapevine—a cousin who still occasionally texted me—I learned the truth about the "dream wedding." Vanessa had demanded a $80,000 wedding they couldn't afford. Liam had drained his savings and taken out massive loans. Now, with Vanessa jobless and unemployable due to her digital footprint, the creditors were calling.
Vanessa’s true colors were shining through. She blamed Liam for not "controlling his crazy sister." She blamed him for the financial stress she had created. The fairytale was rotting from the inside out.
One afternoon, Liam showed up at my new office building. He looked thin, desperate.
"Clara," he begged in the lobby. "I need a loan. Just twenty thousand. We're going to lose the condo."
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I looked at him with nothing but pity. "I am a single mother, Liam. I have to protect my peace and my child's future. I am not your safety net anymore."
I signaled security, and they escorted him out. It broke my heart, but it healed my soul.
