Chapter 8 - A New Beginning
It has been exactly one year since that night at the rental house.
Life has a funny way of rewarding you when you finally take out the trash.
Without the massive financial drain of Bradley and his leeching family, my consulting business exploded.
I opened a second branch in a neighboring state.
I bought a gorgeous penthouse downtown, overlooking the city skyline.
I travel when I want, I buy what I want, and I never, ever apologize for my success.
As for my ex-husband?
Word travels fast when you have mutual connections.
Bradley is currently working double shifts at a hardware store just to make his court-ordered restitution payments to my company.
His relationship with Chloe blew up spectacularly when the money ran out.
It turns out, she only liked him when he was paying for expensive dinners with my credit card.
Barbara tried to sue me in small claims court for "emotional distress."
The judge threw the case out in less than ten minutes and ordered her to pay my attorney fees.
She had to sell her designer bags just to cover the court costs.
Sometimes, late at night, I stand on the balcony of my penthouse with a glass of expensive wine.
I feel the cool night breeze against my skin.
It used to remind me of the freezing air from that spring night.
It used to remind me of the shock, the panic, and the humiliating sound of their laughter.
But not anymore.
Now, the cool air just feels refreshing.
They thought they were teaching me a lesson.
They thought throwing me into the deep end would put me in my place, break my spirit, and remind me that I was beneath them.
But they forgot one very important thing about me.
I know how to swim.
And when they threw me in the water, they didn't drown me.
They just washed away every last ounce of mercy I had left.
I take a sip of my wine, looking out over the glittering lights of the city that I conquered.
I smile, completely at peace.
May you like
They wanted some entertainment.
I hope they enjoyed the show.
