Chapter 9
Mr. Harrison filed for divorce.
The news reached me through Alicia.
I said nothing at first.
Then asked, “What about the children?”
“He has temporary custody. Vanessa has supervised visitation pending charges.”
I nodded.
“Good.”
Alicia looked at me carefully.
“You can care about the children without returning.”
“I know.”
But I did not know.
Not fully.
Part of me wanted to run back the moment Emma called Alicia’s office crying for me.
Part of me wanted to never see that house again.
Both parts were true.
Mr. Harrison’s divorce filings revealed more.
Vanessa had hidden credit cards.
Paid Derek’s debts before.
Transferred jewelry.
Moved money from household accounts.
She had been framing small losses around me for months to explain the missing funds.
A silver bracelet.
A designer scarf.
Cash from a drawer.
A missing bottle of wine.
Each time, she hinted.
Never accused directly.
May you like
Not until the five thousand dollars.
By then, she thought the story was ready.
