Chapter 8 - THE FALL OF TREVOR HAYESTrevor had always believed money could fix everything.
A bad reputation?
Hire a public relations team.
A failed business?
Find investors.
A mistake?
Buy forgiveness.
But some things could not be purchased.
Trust.
Safety.
Love.
His company collapsed within months.
Partners left.
Investors withdrew.
The same people who once praised him suddenly claimed they never knew him.
That was how the world worked.
People loved standing near success.
They disappeared near consequences.
One evening, Trevor appeared outside my father's home.
Security stopped him.
But he asked for me.
I went outside.
Not because I missed him.
Because I wanted closure.
He looked different.
Older.
Broken.
“I need to talk.”
I stood several feet away.
“What do you want?”
He looked at me.
“I made mistakes.”
I waited.
He swallowed.
“I was under pressure.”
There it was.
The same excuse.
I shook my head.
“You still don't understand.”
His face changed.
“What?”
“You’re not sorry for hurting me.”
Silence.
“You’re sorry you lost control.”
For once, Trevor had no answer.
Because the truth was impossible to argue with.
“I loved you.”
I looked at him.
“No.”
A pause.
“You loved having someone who would never leave.”
That hurt him.
Because it was true.
After he left, I stood outside for a long time.
My father came beside me.
“You okay?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
I looked at the house.
Emma playing inside.
My unborn daughter safe.
“Yes.”
May you like
Because peace felt strange.
But I was learning to accept it.
