That evening, back in the apartment she had come to hate, Natalie felt a wave of gratitude toward this decent man who cared about her without asking for anything in return. Around the same time, the consequences of her phone call began to hit. Russell Taggert had reviewed the records, and Greg’s glossy life started coming apart fast. He burst through the front door pale and furious, threw his keys across the room, and smashed an antique candlestick against the floor.
Keeping her face calm, Natalie swept up the shards while Greg muttered about everything collapsing. Soon the apartment was filled with phone calls in which the once-confident businessman begged former partners for time and mercy. But Russell gave him none. He cut Greg out of the business completely and made sure everyone knew why.
A few days later, Greg admitted in a strained voice that he had lost his warehouses, his company vehicles, and his share of the firm. Natalie poured him tea and asked, almost casually, what bank he planned to ask for a loan. Then she watched the realization hit him: the condo was not his.
In a cool, even tone, Natalie confirmed it. Legally, the property belonged to her alone. That night she didn’t sleep, but not from fear. For the first time in years, what kept her awake was the taste of freedom. Three days later, she left for good, waiting until Greg had gone out trying to borrow money from the few people who still took his calls.
There were no dramatic scenes. She packed only what she needed into two suitcases and left behind everything bought with dirty money. She took her clothes, her documents, the sewing tin with the flash drive, Laura’s silver pendant, and a stack of family photos. On the spotless kitchen table, she left a copy of Laura’s note with one line written across it: “She didn’t fall, and you know it.”
Loyal Vera was waiting downstairs in her small sedan. She hugged Natalie without a word and helped load the bags into the trunk. Using the money she had saved, Natalie had already rented a clean one-bedroom apartment on the edge of town. From that day on, it became her safe place. Her divorce attorney had already filed the paperwork. Greg would learn about it from a formal notice…
