For the first time in years, I allowed myself to imagine a future that did not depend on Victor’s generosity.
I did not imagine a mansion.
I did not imagine revenge.
I imagined a home where nobody made me feel ashamed of needing something.
I imagined sleeping through the night.
I imagined walking into a restaurant without remembering the sound of breaking glass and the smell of burning oil.
Most of all, I imagined being able to look at my daughter without wondering what she had learned from watching her mother surrender her dignity to preserve a marriage.
The financial investigation continued for months.
During that time, Victor changed his story repeatedly.
First, he claimed the missing accounts belonged to the company.
Then he argued that the transfers were ordinary business expenses.
When the accountant produced records showing that some of the money had been used to purchase properties through separate entities, Victor said he had acted on professional advice.
