Chapter 9 - The Reckoning at Dinner
Vanessa stared at the papers in horror. Her breath came in short, jagged gasps. All the color had completely drained from her face, leaving her looking sickly and ancient.
"You... you sued me?" she whispered, her voice breaking into a pathetic sob. "You ruined me? After everything... I gave birth to you! I brought you into this world!"
"You brought me into this world, and then you tried to leave me out in the cold to freeze," I replied softly, my voice devoid of any remaining warmth. "You wanted a dinner tonight to celebrate my fortune and take it for yourself. Well, I booked a private room at The Azure Grill for eight o'clock tonight. Not for you to take my money, but for a very different kind of celebration."
I motioned to the two security guards waiting quietly by the doorway.
"My car is waiting downstairs, Vanessa. It's a very nice black luxury car—the exact same color as the one you left me behind in fifteen years ago. Except this time, you'll be sitting in the back seat, and you won't be escaping."
Vanessa let out a choked cry, collapsing into the armchair, burying her face in her hands as real, bitter tears finally streamed down her cheeks. The game was over. The performance had failed. The illusion had shattered into a million sharp pieces.
May you like
The guards stepped forward, gently but firmly lifting her to her feet. As they escorted her toward the private elevator, she looked back one last time, her eyes wide with a desperate, pleading agony.
I didn't blink. I didn't flinch. I watched the elevator doors slide shut, cutting her off from my sight just like she had cut me off from hers all those years ago.
