“Design work.”
“Marketing.”
“Consultants.”
“Travel.”
Amber laughed once.
“Travel?”
Mark glared at her.
She stepped closer.
“Our anniversary in Paris?”
He looked away.
Her mouth fell open.
“That was investor money?”
“It was a business trip too.”
“You told me it was my gift.”
Mark’s face tightened.
“I was trying to give you the life you wanted.”
Amber stared at him.
“I wanted a husband who told me the truth.”
The sentence silenced him.
I looked down at the black bag.
“Mark, what is inside?”
“Nothing relevant.”
Amber answered.
“Everything is relevant.”
He reached for the bag.
Victor stepped between them.
“Do not touch his property.”
Amber stopped.
I appreciated Victor’s restraint.
This needed evidence handled properly, not another dramatic mistake.
I looked at my son.
“Take the bag.”
Confusion crossed his face.
“What?”
“Take it.”
“You think I’m leaving?”
“I think you are going downstairs and waiting for your attorney.”
His eyes widened.
“You called the police?”
“No.”
“Then why would I need an attorney?”
“Because corporate counsel is reviewing whether your materials misuse our trademarks, signatures, proprietary photographs, and company representations.”
His confidence finally cracked.
“Mom, please.”
There was my son again.
Not the arrogant man downstairs.
The frightened boy who once came into my room during thunderstorms.
My heart responded before my mind could stop it.
I hated that.
Love does not disappear simply because someone disappoints you.
Sometimes love makes disappointment almost unbearable.
“I love you.”
Mark’s eyes filled.
“Then help me.”
I shook my head.
“Those are not the same thing.”
His face collapsed.
“I can help you tell the truth.”
“I can help you find counsel.”
“I can help you face whatever consequences belong to you.”
“But I will not help you hide.”
He stared at me.
“You’d let your own son go to prison?”
“I don’t decide whether you go to prison.”
“Neither do you.”
I looked toward Victor.
“Evidence decides what happened.”
“Authorities decide what follows.”
Mark began pacing.
“This is insane.”
“I was going to repay everyone.”
“With what?”
“The development.”
“The development that has no land, financing, permits, or legitimate connection to my company?”
He had no answer.
Amber slowly removed her wedding ring.
Mark noticed.
“What are you doing?”
She placed it on the table.
“I don’t know yet.”
“Amber.”
“I don’t know who you are.”
He laughed bitterly.
“You called my mother a maid an hour ago.”
She flinched.
“Yes.”
“And I will carry that shame for a long time.”
She looked at me.
