Chapter 12 - Five Months of PlanningAndrew read the legal pad at David’s office.
He did not speak for several minutes.
Then he asked:
“Can I have a copy?”
David nodded.
Andrew touched the line mentioning him.
Andrew housing.
“I was leverage.”
I said nothing.
He looked at me.
“So were you.”
“Yes.”
The realization hurt him in a different way.
Rebecca had loved him.
I still believed that.
People can love someone and use them.
That is one of adulthood’s uglier truths.
David explained that the notes strengthened the timeline but did not automatically transform everything into a criminal case.
Intent mattered.
Actions mattered.
Actual losses mattered.
The false brokerage agreement was serious.
So were the financial representations.
But the house had never been sold.
No buyer had transferred money.
My title remained untouched.
The lender had corrected its file before advancing anything new based on my property.
Consequences would come.
They simply would not resemble television.
Andrew asked, “What happens to Rebecca?”
David answered:
“That depends partly on what the lender, brokerage, and potentially Elaine choose to pursue.”
Andrew looked at me.
I understood the question he was too ashamed to ask.
Would I destroy his wife?
I looked at David.
“I want my property removed from everything.”
“Already done.”
“I want written confirmation.”
“You’ll have it.”
“I want every copy of my financial documents returned or destroyed where appropriate.”
“Yes.”
“And I want the false brokerage agreement formally documented.”
David nodded.
Andrew asked quietly:
“You’re not protecting her?”
“No.”
“Then why not go as hard as possible?”
I turned toward him.
“Because boundaries are not revenge.”
His face changed.
That lesson was for both of us.
Rebecca eventually agreed to meet.
Not at my house.
At David’s office.
She looked smaller than I remembered.
No gold earrings.
No camel coat.
Just a dark sweater and tired eyes.
She saw the yellow pad on the table.
Her face collapsed.
“Where did you get that?”
Sandra answered.
“You put it in my house.”
Rebecca closed her eyes.
Andrew asked the question.
“Was any of our marriage real?”
Sandra whispered, “Andrew.”
He shook his head.
“I need to know.”
Rebecca looked at him.
“Yes.”
He waited.
“I loved you.”
“Then why did you use me?”
She began crying.
“Because loving you didn’t make the bills disappear.”
Andrew stared.
“And lying did?”
“No.”
She covered her mouth.
“No. It just bought time.”
That, finally, sounded true.
Then David asked about RB Media.
And the final hidden number came out.
May you like
Rebecca had lost nearly seventy-two thousand dollars trying to keep the business alive.
Most of it before she ever told Andrew there was a problem.
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