Chapter 9 - THE TERMS
The settlement arrived the next morning.
Elena would transfer her interest in the estate, withdraw her allegations, and acknowledge that all disputed financial transactions had been authorized.
In return, Julian would “permit an amicable separation.”
Elena read the word permit three times.
Then she reached the section concerning their unborn child.
It proposed giving Julian control over major decisions after the birth and requiring Elena to undergo evaluations chosen by his attorney.
“He wrote this like he owns us.”
Nora took the pages.
“It’s a proposal. It has no force unless you agree. You are not agreeing.”
Elena looked at the signature line.
For years, Julian had put documents in front of her while she was cooking, getting dressed, falling asleep.
Just routine.
Just sign.
Don’t make everything difficult.
“How many things did I sign without reading?”
“We’ll review all of them.”
“What if some of this is my fault?”
“Signing a document doesn’t authorize someone to forge the next one.”
Gabriel entered carrying a paper bag.
“Rosa said you like the bakery on Lexington.”
Inside was a blueberry muffin, slightly crushed.
He looked embarrassed by its condition.
Elena broke it in half.
For a few minutes, they ate without discussing money.
Then she asked the question he had avoided.
“Why does Julian think your loan can hurt you?”
Gabriel set his half down.
“Because one of my companies was under investigation years ago. He believes any payment from me will look criminal if he tells the story loudly enough.”
“Was the loan legal?”
“Yes.”
“And the investigation?”
Her father looked at her.
“My past is not clean, Elena.”
“I know.”
“There are things I should have faced sooner.”
She waited.
“I won’t ask you to protect me from them.”
It wasn’t a confession to everything.
It was the first answer that didn’t try to manage her.
That afternoon, Elena told Nora to reject Julian’s terms.
Every one.
Twenty minutes later, her college friend Tessa called.
They hadn’t spoken in almost two years.
“Elena, are you okay?”
“I’m getting there.”
“I just saw the video.”
Elena sat up.
“What video?”
Julian had posted a statement online.
He stood in the stripped nursery, eyes damp, wedding ring visible.
“My wife is being kept from me by people with dangerous connections.”
Then he held up a grainy photograph.
May you like
Gabriel outside a courthouse years earlier.
“Elena,” he said into the camera, “please come home before your father destroys our family.”
