“Yes, Your Honor,” Andrew, Susan’s lawyer, stood up. “We have my client’s pay stubs for the last seven years, as well as a complete history of the mortgage payments from her personal bank account.”
He placed a thick folder on the judge’s bench. The hearing was adjourned. But Susan could already see that the law was on her side.
That evening, when she returned home, an unpleasant surprise was waiting for her. An unmarked envelope lay under her apartment door. Inside was a glossy brochure for a funeral home. A picture of a wreath with a black ribbon was circled in thick red marker, with the words “You’ll be needing this soon” scrawled across it.
A chill went down Susan’s spine. She knew who had sent it. Eleanor had resorted to threats. She immediately called Andrew.
“This is very serious,” he said after hearing her out. “Keep the envelope and the brochure. We’ll file a police report for death threats tomorrow.”
But her mother-in-law didn’t stop there. A few days later, she cornered Susan outside her office.
“Happy now?” she hissed, blocking her path. “Decided to ruin my son?”
“Eleanor, please step aside, I’m in a hurry.” Susan tried to walk around her.
“I’m not moving!” Her mother-in-law grabbed her by the sleeve of her coat. “You’ll pay for this! I’ll make sure you give up that apartment yourself. I’ll tell all your neighbors what a tramp you are. I’ll tell everyone at your job how you robbed your husband blind!”
“Go ahead,” Susan replied coldly, pulling her arm free. “And I’ll go ahead and prove in court that you’re not only threatening me but also slandering me. That’s a crime too, you know.”
She walked away, leaving her mother-in-law muttering curses behind her. But inside, she was trembling with fear. That woman was capable of anything.
The climax came a week later. Susan was returning home late in the evening. The courtyard was dark and deserted. As she approached her building’s entrance, Mike suddenly stepped out from behind a corner. He was drunk.
“Gotcha,” he smirked and lunged toward her.
“Mike, what do you want?” Susan backed away.
“I want to talk.” He grabbed her by the shoulders. His grip was strong, and his eyes were angry. “Why did you call the cops on my mom? She was just… joking.”
“Let go of me,” Susan hissed, trying to break free.
“No, I won’t.” He pulled her closer. The stench of alcohol was overwhelming. “You’re going to drop the charges. And you’re going to give up the condo, understand?”
“Never.”
“Oh, really…” His face twisted. “Then I’ll make you.”
He raised his hand. Susan squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the blow. But it never came. She heard a dull thud, then Mike’s muffled groan. Opening her eyes, she saw her father. He was standing over a doubled-over Mike, holding a tire iron.
“I told you I wouldn’t let anyone hurt you,” her father said, breathing heavily. “Seems this idiot doesn’t understand words.”
Mike groaned, clutching his side.
“What… what did you do?” he rasped.
“I warned you, son.” Victor loomed over him. “You come near my daughter again, and you’ll have me to deal with. Now get up and get out of here. And I better not see you around her again!”
Mike struggled to his feet and limped away, casting hateful glances over his shoulder.
“Dad…” Susan rushed to her father. “What have you done? He could… you could go to jail.”
“I won’t,” her father shook his head, hiding the tire iron under his jacket. “He started it. Self-defense. Besides, I doubt he’ll run to the police. Too embarrassing to admit he got beat up by a retiree. Let’s go home, honey.”
They went up to the apartment. Her mother, hearing the commotion, ran into the hallway.
“What happened?”
“Nothing,” her father cut her off. “Just had a little chat with my son-in-law. I hope he got the message.”
That night was another sleepless one for Susan. She was worried about her father. What if Mike did file a report? But her father was as calm as a rock.
The next day, Andrew called.
“Susan, I have news for you. It seems the other party is ready to negotiate. Their lawyer called, offering to settle out of court.”
“What?” Susan couldn’t believe her ears. “After everything that’s happened?”
“Apparently, yesterday’s ‘incident’ made quite an impression on your ex-husband,” the lawyer chuckled. “They’re offering you 60% of the condo’s value on the condition that you drop the police report.”
Susan thought for a moment.
“What about the threats and slander from his mother? Can we include a clause in the agreement that she ceases all contact with me and issues a public apology?”
“No,” Susan said firmly. “I don’t need any apologies. I want 70%. And a restraining order for both of them, preventing them from coming near me or my family.”
“70%?” the lawyer whistled. “That’s bold.”
“They’re the ones who wanted to negotiate,” Susan shrugged. “That means they’re scared. And when the enemy is scared, you press your advantage.”
The settlement negotiations dragged on for several days. Mike’s lawyer fought fiercely, trying to lower the percentage, but Andrew, following Susan’s instructions, stood his ground. “70% and not a penny less,” he repeated. “Otherwise, we proceed with the lawsuit and add charges for assault, threats, and slander. I don’t think that would be in your client’s best interest.”
In the end, they caved. Apparently, the prospect of a criminal record for Mike and more fines for Eleanor seemed worse than losing another 20% of the condo’s value.
On the day of the signing, Susan met Mike face-to-face again in the lawyer’s office. He looked even worse than the last time she’d seen him: thinner, with a bruise under his eye that he awkwardly tried to hide with his shirt collar. Eleanor was not with him.
“Mom’s not feeling well,” he mumbled, avoiding her gaze.
They signed the papers in silence. When it was all over, Susan stood up to leave.
“Wait,” Mike stopped her.
She turned around.
“I…”
Comments are closed.