Chapter 8 - My son asks me to change the story
Three days after the wedding, Michael requested a meeting through lawyers.
Not about reconciliation.
About the house.
His attorney said:
“Michael wants to avoid unnecessary escalation.”
Our attorney, Evelyn Park, said:
“Then he can start by staying away from Ellen.”
Michael sat across the conference table.
No tuxedo.
No wedding charm.
He looked exhausted.
He said:
“Dad, I need you to understand what happened.”
“I watched it.”
“You watched the end.”
“I watched you shove your mother.”
“She was attacking Cassandra.”
“With what?”
“Words.”
I stared.
Michael realized it.
He corrected:
“She was provoking her.”
“That is not an attack.”
“Mom threatened to expose our finances in front of Cassandra’s family.”
“Did she?”
“No.”
“Then why say it?”
Michael looked at his lawyer.
Then:
“She said she would tell you everything.”
“I already knew there were money problems.”
“Not everything.”
There.
First fracture.
“What don’t I know?”
His lawyer interrupted.
“We are not discussing finances today.”
I smiled without humor.
May you like
“We are now.”
Meeting ended.
