“This is it.”
Tyler stared at the document.
I continued.
“You have thirty minutes to remove your personal possessions. Anything remaining after that will be handled according to the terms of the occupancy agreement.”
“You can’t do this.”
“It is already done.”
Emily was crying.
“Dad, please.”
I looked at her.
I wanted to comfort the little girl I remembered.
But the woman standing before me had hidden her wedding from me, allowed her husband to insult me, and accepted my money while deciding I was unsuitable for her carefully curated life.
She also had no idea how completely Tyler had deceived her.
I turned toward the elevator.
Behind me, Tyler began shouting at Vernon.
The doors closed before I heard the rest.
Three weeks later, Emily called.
Her voice sounded exhausted.
“Dad, I found the bank records.”
I said nothing.
“There’s an offshore account with two hundred thousand dollars. A property in Miami. Emails between Tyler and his parents.”
“I know.”
Silence.
“You knew?”
“I hired an investigator the day after you told me about the wedding.”
“You’ve known for weeks?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Would you have believed me?”
She did not answer.
“You had already chosen him over me,” I continued. “You needed to see the evidence yourself.”
“I filed for divorce this morning.”
Her voice broke.
“And Dad, I’m sorry.”
I closed my eyes.
“You were manipulated by someone you trusted. That is what people like Tyler do.”
“I should have trusted you.”
“Yes.”
It was not a cruel answer.
It was an honest one.
“Can I come see you?”
“I’m leaving for Ohio tomorrow. Your Uncle Roger and I are going fishing.”
“The cabin?”
“Yes.”
A pause.
“Could I come?”
For the first time since that dinner in the penthouse, I smiled.
“Yes, sweetheart. I would like that.”