Chapter 8
Suzanne recovered first.
She always did when money was threatened.
“This is insane,” she said. “Derek lives here.”
“Not anymore,” I answered.
She looked at the officers.
“You’re letting her throw him out?”
Officer Price replied calmly, “We are here to prevent contact and keep the peace.”
Suzanne pointed at me.
“She attacked our family financially.”
I almost laughed.
Financially.
Not medically.
Not physically.
Not emotionally.
Financially.
That was the wound Suzanne understood.
I turned to her.
“You used my card after I told you to stop.”
“For family.”
“For yourself.”
Her face hardened.
“You think you’re better than us.”
“No.”
“I think I was useful to you.”
That silenced her.
Derek was still holding the failed key fob.
He looked smaller with it in his hand.
Like a child pressing a broken remote at a dark television.
“You planned this,” he said.
“No.”
“You did.”
“No, Derek. I prepared after you hurt me.”
He flinched.
The distinction mattered.
Planning sounded cruel.
Preparation sounded justified.
He did not want justified.
He wanted hysterical.
Vindictive.
Unstable.
Anything except accurate.
Officer Miller glanced toward the broken mug.
“Ms. Hayes, do you need anything else from the residence today?”
I looked around the apartment.
Modern furniture.
White walls.
Ocean-blue art.
Sunlight across the floor.
The life I once thought we were building.
Then I realized the answer.
“No.”
Derek’s head lifted.
“What do you mean, no?”
“I mean everything I need is already gone.”
He turned toward the bedroom again, panic sharper now.
“My watches?”
I said nothing.
“My files?”
Silence.
“My passport?”
I looked at him then.
“Your personal legal documents are with your attorney’s office. Mine are not.”
His mouth closed.
Officer Price’s eyes stayed on his hands.
Suzanne whispered, “Derek, what is happening?”
Derek did not answer.
May you like
Because for once, the person controlling the room was not explaining herself to him.
Read the full story 👉 Suzanne framed the loss of access as an attack, but Skylar made it clear she was not punishing them—she was protecting herself.
