Chapter 5
Albert stopped at the sidewalk and looked back once.
Not at Chelsea.
Not at the doorway.
At the upstairs window of the guest room.
His room for eight months.
A narrow bed.
One dresser.
A reading lamp.
Three framed photographs he had packed carefully between sweaters.
Logan at seven, missing two front teeth.
Logan at sixteen, wearing a baseball uniform Albert had paid for with overtime.
Logan on his wedding day, smiling beside Chelsea while Albert stood behind them, already having transferred money for the reception venue because the “deposit problem” had appeared three days before the ceremony.
Albert did not regret loving his son.
That was important.
He regretted teaching Logan that love would always rescue him from consequences.
The black car he had called waited near the curb.
The driver stepped out.
“Mr. Higgins?”
Albert nodded.
Before handing over the suitcases, he removed the leather wallet and held it against his chest.
Inside were copies.
Not all.
Enough.
Loan guarantees.
Private payment records.
Signed agreements.
Corporate bailout notes for Logan’s failed side business.
Proof that the house’s comfort rested on Albert’s quiet support, not Chelsea’s image or Logan’s salary.
He did not intend to destroy them in the doorway.
He intended to remove his name carefully.
Legally.
Completely.
What followed would depend on the paperwork.
Not his anger.
Not Chelsea’s cruelty.
Paper.
Dates.
Signatures.
Obligations.
He looked back as Logan appeared in the doorway, one hand against the frame.
For a second, Albert hoped his son would say something human.
Not about money.
Not about documents.
Just Dad.
But Logan only stared at the wallet.
Albert understood.
The son had noticed the papers before he noticed the wound.
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So Albert got into the car.
Read the full story 👉 Albert looked back hoping for love, but Logan’s eyes went first to the document wallet.
