Chapter 5 - The Confrontation
By Wednesday, Dominic’s life was entirely unrecognizable.
The news of Apex Tech’s collapse had hit the financial blogs.
Creditors were calling non-stop.
His "friends" in the industry had stopped returning his messages.
Desperation drove him to the one place he had previously sworn he would never go.
He rented a cheap sedan and drove two hours outside the city, following the address a private investigator had managed to pull up for Charles Brooks.
When he reached the massive wrought-iron gates of the Brooks estate, he felt entirely small.
The estate looked like a royal palace, surrounded by acres of perfectly manicured forests.
He pressed the intercom button at the gate.
“State your business,” a gruff security voice demanded.
“My name is Dominic. I need to speak to my wife. To Audrey.”
There was a long pause.
Then, surprisingly, the heavy iron gates began to swing open.
Dominic drove up the winding, tree-lined driveway, his heart hammering against his ribs.
He was going to apologize.
He would get on his knees if he had to.
He would promise to change, to be the husband she deserved.
He parked in front of the colossal stone steps.
I was standing at the top of them.
I wore a flowing silk robe, looking rested, healthy, and entirely untouchable.
Mr. Vance stood a few feet behind me, his hands clasped behind his back.
Dominic scrambled out of the car, looking up at me as if seeing me for the first time.
“Audrey...” he breathed, starting up the steps.
Mr. Vance stepped forward smoothly, blocking his path.
“That’s far enough,” the older man said firmly.
Dominic stopped, looking at me with pleading eyes.
“Audrey, please. You have to listen to me.”
“I’m listening,” I said, my voice devoid of the warmth he used to take for granted.
“I was an idiot,” he rushed out, tears springing to his eyes.
“I let the stress of the business get to me. I made a terrible mistake at the hospital. I was selfish!”
“Yes,” I agreed simply. “You were.”
“I didn't know who you were, Audrey! If I had known—”
“If you had known I was a billionaire’s daughter, you would have treated me with basic human decency?” I interrupted, raising an eyebrow.
The words caught in his throat.
He realized his mistake instantly, but there was no way to take it back.
“That’s exactly the point, Dominic,” I said softly, looking down at him with profound pity.
“You only respect power. You only respect money.”
“When you thought I had neither, you treated me like a burden.”
“You left your newborn son and your bleeding wife on the curb.”
“But now that you know I own the curb, you want to get on your knees.”
“Audrey, I love you! I love Leo!” he cried out.
“You haven’t asked about Leo once since you arrived,” I noted coldly.
Dominic froze again.
“I’ve filed for divorce, Dominic,” I said, turning away.
“The papers will be served to whatever couch you’re currently sleeping on.”
“Audrey, wait! Don’t do this! We’re a family!”
“We were never a family,” I said without looking back.
“Mr. Vance, escort our guest off the property. If he returns, have him arrested for trespassing.”
“With pleasure, Ms. Brooks,” Mr. Vance replied.
As I walked back into the warmth of the mansion, I heard Dominic shouting my name.
The sound didn't break my heart.
May you like
It didn't make me falter.
It only confirmed that I had finally woken up.
