Chapter 10 - The Peace of Solitude
The frantic, chaotic energy finally evaporated from the luxury estate.
Within exactly nine minutes, Garrison dragged a single duffel bag down the grand staircase. He didn't look at me. He was completely stripped of his arrogance, his fake wealth, and his dignity. He walked out the heavy front doors, pulling them shut behind him.
The lock clicked with a satisfying, final snap.
The twenty relatives had already fled to their cars, vanishing into the night to gossip about the spectacular downfall of Patricia's golden boy.
I stood alone in the center of the massive, silent living room. The TV screen was turned off. The house belonged entirely to me, and it had never felt so peaceful.
I walked back into the kitchen. I looked at the garbage can holding the four pounds of ruined short ribs. I didn't feel a single ounce of regret. I tied the trash bag, carried it out to the garage, and threw it in the bin.
I washed my hands, grabbed my phone, and ordered myself a large pepperoni pizza.
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When it arrived, I sat on my expensive leather couch, completely alone, eating a hot slice of pizza in absolute, unbothered silence. The monster who had slapped me was gone. The husband who betrayed me was homeless. My empire was entirely secure.
If you were in my shoes, would you have handed the forged loan documents to the police immediately, or was stripping him of everything and kicking him to the curb the ultimate, perfect revenge?
