Chapter 7 - THE AFTERMATH OF RUIN
The collapse of Brandon’s family was swift, brutal, and entirely public.
Two weeks after the hearing, the District Attorney formally charged Patrick, Brenda, and Brandon with multiple counts of felony fraud. Because they had no money left to hire private attorneys, they were assigned overworked public defenders.
I sat in my parents' living room, drinking tea, while my father read the local newspaper.
“Listen to this,” my father chuckled, shaking his head. “The bank foreclosed on their house yesterday. Patrick was denied bail because he’s considered a flight risk, and Brenda is apparently living in a cheap motel by the highway.”
“And Brandon?” I asked, looking out the window at the peaceful garden.
“He took a plea deal,” my mother said, walking into the room with a plate of fresh cookies. “He agreed to testify against his parents in exchange for a reduced sentence. Three years in minimum security.”
They had turned on each other like starving wolves. The loyalty Brandon demanded of me—the blind, subservient obedience—did not even exist within his own bloodline.
Later that afternoon, I received a phone call from David, my boss at the marketing firm.
“Melanie,” David said, sounding deeply apologetic. “I saw the news. We had no idea they were trying to frame you. I am incredibly sorry we doubted you. We would love for you to return to work on Monday, and HR has authorized a significant bonus for your lost time.”
“I appreciate the apology, David,” I said gently. “But I won’t be returning.”
There was a pause. “Oh. Did you find another position?”
“Something like that,” I smiled. “I’m starting my own firm.”
May you like
With my parents’ $200,000 safely returned to me, they had insisted I keep it. “It was meant for your future,” my father had told me. “Build something beautiful with it.”
And I knew exactly what I wanted to build.
