Victor was removed before lunch. By dinner, his accounts were frozen by court order. Within a week, Lila’s medical fraud case went public. Claudine’s social circle abandoned her before the first indictment. People like her feared scandal more than sin.
The divorce took six months.
Victor tried charm, threats, pity. In court, he called me vindictive.
The judge read his emails aloud.
That ended it.
A year later, I sat on the terrace of the house that had always been mine, holding my daughter as dawn painted her cheeks gold. I named her Elena.
The company flourished. My enemies did not.
Victor served time for fraud and conspiracy. Lila accepted a plea. Claudine sold her jewelry to pay lawyers who no longer returned her calls.
People still asked how I survived.
