Sharon, seeing the proof of the purchase receipt, gasped for air, her face flushed with shame and fear. She realized her carelessness had been one of the nails in the coffin. Khloe’s father, who had silently observed the drama of denials, finally stood up. His tall, imposing figure seemed to radiate a contained anger. With a voice that was not loud, but full of authority, he pronounced his verdict. He stated firmly that there was no $10 million. There never was, and there never would be for a traitor. The story of the fund transfer was just a bait suggested by Khloe to bring their greed to light.
Then Khloe’s father pointed at Ethan. He fired him from his position in the company’s subsidiary. Effective immediately, all company facilities, including the car, laptop, and corporate credit card, were revoked and blocked on the spot. Ethan had not only lost the future inheritance, but also his job, his career, and his reputation in the business world because Khloe’s father would ensure his name was blacklisted in his business circle.
And as for you,” he said, turning to Isla, “I will make sure you can never work in any company in this city again. You betrayed the friend who considered you a sister for a bit of money. Enjoy your life with this unemployed man.”
Isla began to sob quietly, a cry of late regret. But Ethan’s nightmare was not over. Hearing there was no money, his mind immediately flew to the massive debt he had taken on a few days earlier. He had borrowed money from a loan shark with the guarantee of a fake deed, assuming he could pay it back today with Khloe’s father’s money. Now that source of income was gone. That meant he had a gigantic debt about to mature with interest that kept growing, and an invalid guarantee. His life was in danger. Ethan’s face went from pale to ashen. He realized he was not just poor, but in grave danger.
Suddenly, Ethan knelt on the floor and crawled towards Khloe’s feet. He cried out loud, shedding all his dignity. He begged for forgiveness, saying it had been a slip, that he was bewitched, that the devil had tempted him. He swore he would leave Isla that very instant and become a good husband again. He clung to the hem of Khloe’s dress, kissing it hysterically. Sharon also joined in the crying, begging her daughter-in-law not to be so cruel, reminding her of the sin of breaking family ties. The scene was pathetic and disgusting at the same time.
Khloe looked at the man prostrated at her feet. The man she once loved, the man she trusted to lead her home, was now nothing more than trash begging for mercy. With a slow but firm movement, Khloe pulled her dress from Ethan’s grasp as if she had just touched something dirty. She took a step back, maintaining her distance. Then Khloe removed the wedding ring from her ring finger, the white gold ring with diamonds that Ethan had placed there with promises of fidelity. She looked at the ring for a moment and with a slight flick let it fall to the floor right in front of Ethan’s teary face. The clink of the ring against the marble echoed in the silent room. Take it, darling. It is the only thing left of our marriage. Sell it to buy milk for your child with Isla. or maybe it will be enough to pay for your bus ticket back home because the car downstairs has already been repossessed by my father’s office driver.
Khloe spoke these words with a tone of finality. There was no tremor of sadness, only immense relief. She felt a great weight had just been lifted from her shoulders. Ethan looked at the ring in despair and then at Khloe, who stood like an unshakable tower.
The building’s security guards then entered, summoned by the assistant, and dragged away a still, hysterically crying Ethan, Sharon, who pretended to faint, and Isla, who walked with her head bowed in shame. Ethan’s scream still echoed in the hallway until the lift door closed, taking with it the rubbish from Khloe’s life. In the room, Khloe exhaled a long sigh, turned, and hugged her father. Her armor cracked a little. Her tears fell. But this time they were not tears of sadness, but of liberation. She had won. She was safe. And she was ready to watch how karma worked its way much more cruel out there.
The midday sun shone brightly, mercilessly, burning the skin of anyone exposed to it. On the pavement in front of Khloe’s father’s imposing office building, three human figures stood with empty faces and an appearance that contrasted with their surroundings. Ethan, Sharon, and Isla had just been forcibly ejected by security guards. They stood stunned on the edge of a noisy avenue. The street dust flew up, hitting their faces, still damp with cold sweat and the remnants of tears. The luxury company car they had arrived in with pride that morning had already been returned to the company garage. Ethan’s wallet was empty, his credit cards blocked, and the wedding ring Khloe had thrown had been left on the boardroom floor because Ethan was too panicked when he was dragged out. They truly had nothing but the clothes on their backs and an unbearable shame.
People passing by looked at them strangely, and for good reason. Sharon, dressed in a flashy party suit, was sitting on the dirty pavement. Isla was crying her eyes out while holding her belly, and Ethan in his impeccable suit looked like a madman who had lost his mind. The silence between them was broken when Sharon started to apportion blame. With a hoarse voice, she hit Ethan’s arm, shouting and asking what he was going to do about her now. She demanded Ethan take responsibility for bringing her from her hometown only to be humiliated like this. Sharon also blamed Isla. She pointed at Isla with her trembling finger, accusing her of bringing bad luck. According to Sharon, if Isla had not seduced Ethan, Khloe would not be so furious, and she could still be enjoying the comforts of her daughter-in-law’s house.
Isla, pregnant and with her emotions raw, did not accept the blame. She responded to Sharon’s shouts with a shrill voice, screaming that she was the victim of Ethan’s sweet promises. She said she had become his lover because Ethan had promised her luxury, not poverty and humiliation on the street. A heated argument broke out on the public footpath, becoming a free spectacle for the delivery drivers waiting nearby.
Ethan ignored the fight between his mother and his mistress. His mind was occupied with a terror far more real than his mother’s reproaches. He remembered the loan shark. Today was the deadline for the first interest payment and the repayment of the principal if he wanted to get the house deed back. The problem was the deed he had given as collateral was fake and he did not have a single cent. Ethan put his hand in his trouser pocket and took out his mobile with trembling hands. He had dozens of missed calls from an unknown number. He felt his heart leap into his throat. He knew who was calling. The debt collectors must have sensed that something was wrong.
