Chapter 7 - THE FINAL SHOWDOWN AT THE FIRM
Three days later, the divorce proceedings took place at Ricardo Saldaña’s downtown law office.
Sergio sat across the mahogany conference table, flanked by a public defender who looked like he wanted to be anywhere else in the world. Sergio’s face was pale, shadowed by dark circles under his eyes, looking every bit like a man whose entire world had collapsed because he chose the wrong side of a toxic family dynamic.
Ofelia wasn't there. The moment Sergio was arrested, she had vanished, refusing to pay for his bail or hire a private attorney, proving once and for all that her "loyal son" was only valuable to her as long as he was useful.
"Mr. Velasquez," Ricardo said, pushing a thick document across the table. "This is the final settlement. You waive all rights to the property, the bank accounts held in Mrs. Velasquez's sole name, and any future claims against her estate. In exchange, my client drops the criminal burglary charges to simple trespassing, keeping you out of state prison."
Sergio stared at the paper. His hands shook as he picked up the pen.
"Mariana," he whispered, looking across the table with watery eyes. "Please. Can't we start over? Just the two of us? No family involved. I'll cut them off, I swear."
I looked at him—really looked at him—and saw a stranger. A pathetic, hollow man who had traded his integrity for his mother's approval, only to be discarded the moment he failed.
May you like
"Sign the papers, Sergio," I said quietly. "And lose my number."
With a trembling hand, he signed his name at the bottom of the page.
