I closed the folder and said, “You mean to tell me you didn’t know that?”
Richard’s eyes flared with intensity.
They clearly did not know. Caleb had never asked about my life because men like him usually study only those whom they feel may hurt them.
After my husband died two years ago, I sold the condo, liquidated everything I had in investments, and joined the board of a private family foundation I had created as a silent partner with my husband.My late husband’s previous title was not simply that of a school principal as Caleb believed. Caleb did not know that before education, Daniel Mercer started his own business called Mercer Legal Analytics—a compliance software that is implemented in nearly 50% of law firms across the state.
I took away more than pain when Daniel passed away.
I also took away leverage.
However, I have not yet revealed this information to them. Revenge is anger when it is delivered too quickly. Revenge that is valid, however, must have witnesses, proof, and an ideal time to be conducted.
Hence, I lowered my gaze so they would mistake my patience for weakness.
“I’ll pack.”
Mia appeared completely crushed.
Caleb appeared victorious.
While Caleb played golf that afternoon alongside his investors, and his parents were praising him, I made three separate phone calls.
The first call was to my attorney, Lila Grant, an attorney who has the ability to flay a liar alive with a subpoena.
My second call was placed to an advocate regarding domestic violence for whom I had anonymously supported for years.
My last call was to Detective Alvarez whose wife’s shelter received new security enhancements last spring as a result of my foundation.
After that, I saved the video footage in three (3) different encrypted locations.
Later that evening, Caleb had taken on a relaxed attitude and trapped Mia in the hallway. He did not realize that the small camera embedded within Noah’s white noise machine is streaming a live feed directly to my phone.
“You think your mommy can save you?” he snarled. “If you leave, you get nothing. You cannot have the house; you cannot have any money; You cannot have the baby. My dad knows judges.”
Mia said in a low voice, “I only want Noah to be protected.”
Caleb thought this was funny. “Then just do what I tell you.”
I was in the guest room observing everything as it played out.I have not been able to smile as I had done previously since the first minute of this day. A woman who has experienced powerlessness has not been chosen, but rather, a mother who has spent 40 years helping kids with fears and finding their voices, but a mother who has also spent 20 years helping to provide the resources for the lawyers that put the fear of silence in the abuser.
The second morning after I was chosen, I requested that all three of them come together in the living room area.
Caleb walked in with a smug look, freshly shaved and dressed in a navy suit (as if cruelty needed to be tailored). On one side of the fireplace stood Richard, and Vanessa was lounging on the sofa wearing her diamonds. On my other side sat Mia, who was very pale, with Noah sleeping on her chest.
Caleb spotted my suitcase near the door and said to me, “Are you finally going to be reasonable?”
I told him, “Yes, I am—very much.”
That was when Lila Grant arrived at the house.
Caleb looked hidden and perplexed and asked, “Who the hell is this?”
I said, “My lawyer.”
Shortly thereafter, Detective Alvarez entered and he was followed by two uniformed officers.
Vanessa rose from the sofa and exclaimed, in indignation, “This is outrageous.”
To which Lila replied, as she placed her tablet down on the coffee table, “No, outrageous is the attack on your wife, threats of custody manipulation, coercive control, and attempts at buying silence from witnesses.”
Caleb’s father’s face turned hard and he said, “You have no proof.”