Chapter 18 - ROBERT’S CHOICE
Six months after the dinner, Robert asked to speak with me alone.
We met in Mara’s conference room.
He looked older.
Not dramatically.
Just less polished.
The expensive confidence had disappeared.
He placed an envelope in front of me.
“What is this?”
“My remaining interest in the condo.”
I frowned.
“It’s yours.”
“No.”
He pushed it closer.
“Sell it.”
“Why?”
“Restitution.”
I studied him.
“The court already ordered restitution.”
“This is additional.”
“For what?”
He looked down.
“For Lily.”
I said nothing.
“I spent years telling myself I wasn’t hurting her because I wasn’t the one burning the food or tearing up the birthday card.”
His jaw tightened.
“But I made it safe for Mom to do it.”
I watched him.
“That money won’t fix her.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because saying sorry costs nothing.”
He looked at me.
“I need it to cost something.”
For the first time, I saw a version of Robert that resembled the man I married.
Not enough to save our marriage.
But enough to make me sad for what he had become.
“I’ll put it into separate trusts for both children.”
He nodded.
“Good.”
“Equal shares.”
“Yes.”
That word mattered.
I signed nothing that day.
Mara handled it later.
Before Robert left, he stopped.
“Mom asked me to testify for her.”
I looked up.
“What did you say?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because she still thinks I owe her.”
He gave a tired laugh.
“For the first time, I understand that she kept a ledger of love.”
I knew exactly what he meant.
Every gift became debt.
Every favor became authority.
Every sacrifice became ownership.
Robert continued.
“I told her I would testify if subpoenaed.”
“Truthfully?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“She called me ungrateful.”
I almost smiled.
“How did that feel?”
“Terrible.”
He paused.
“Free.”
That answer surprised me.
Then his face changed.
“The prosecutor thinks she may take a plea.”
“For the fraud?”
“Yes.”
“What does she want?”
“Reduced charges.”
“And what do they want?”
He looked toward me.
“An admission.”
I knew immediately.
“About the forged document?”
May you like
He nodded.
“And the plan to remove Lily.”
