Chapter 9 - The Aftermath
Two weeks peacefully passed in the pristine, snowy mountains of Aspen.
I spent my quiet mornings enjoying luxurious, hot stone massages and my elegant evenings dining on world-class cuisine.
My bank account was filled with millions of dollars, completely securing my total independence and absolute safety.
I had recently purchased a stunning, ultra-modern penthouse condo in a highly secure building in downtown Seattle, ready to start a completely new, drama-free chapter.
One lazy afternoon, while I was sitting by the massive, roaring fireplace in the resort lobby, my secure phone buzzed softly.
It was an email notification from my former attorney, forwarding a desperate, pathetic message from Nathan.
He had apparently been bouncing around cheap, terrifying motels, rapidly blowing through the last few dollars he could scrounge.
Elena had indeed filed for aggressive divorce, demanding alimony he could never possibly afford to pay.
He had lost his mediocre job because he kept showing up entirely exhausted and smelling distinctly of cheap alcohol.
"Please, Mom," the forwarded email read, practically dripping with complete, absolute desperation.
"I am so incredibly sorry for what I did, I was under so much stress, and I didn't mean to hurt you."
"I am currently sleeping in my car, and it's freezing at night."
"Please just call me, please just send me a little bit of money so I can get a decent apartment."
"I love you, Mom, please don't leave me out here like this."
I read the pathetic, whining words twice, feeling absolutely no emotional reaction whatsoever.
He wasn't genuinely sorry for violently striking me; he was only sorry that his horrific actions had terrible, severe consequences.
If I hadn't sold the house, he would still be living in absolute luxury, mocking me while treating me like his personal servant.
I didn't owe him a single drop of my hard-earned peace, nor a single penny of my massive, comfortable fortune.
I hit the delete button on the email without a second thought, completely erasing his pathetic plea from my inbox forever.
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I instructed my attorney to actively block any further correspondence from him, officially cutting the final, fraying tie between us.
Nathan was a grown, highly capable adult, and he was finally going to learn how to survive entirely on his own.
