PART 42
Brandon looked at me across the courtroom once.
I did not look away.
He seemed older.
Not dramatically.
Just diminished.
Later, through attorneys, he asked whether I would write a letter asking for leniency.
I refused.
Not because I wanted maximum punishment.
Because I would not participate in softening consequences he built himself.
That was another boundary.
PART 43
The divorce finalized before the criminal case ended.
I kept the house.
Brandon kept his personal debts.
The hidden accounts were addressed.
Recovered assets were divided according to the court.
Skylar’s funds remained protected.
Then the judge asked whether there were any final disputes.
My attorney said no.
I signed.
Walked outside.
And felt lighter than I expected.
Not happy.
Not sad.
Clear.
Clarity is underrated.
PART 44
Six months later, Brandon began supervised contact with Skylar.
Her choice.
Not mine.
She wanted answers.
I respected that.
Their first meeting lasted forty minutes.
Afterward, she got into my car.
I did not ask what happened.
I waited.
Then she said,
“He cried.”
I nodded.
“He said Grandma made everything worse.”
I looked at her.
“What did you say?”
“I said he was the dad.”
That was all.
She understood responsibility better than he did.
PART 45
Later, Brandon apologized to her more honestly.
He admitted he let Gertrude control the house.
He admitted he used Skylar’s money.
He admitted he told her I could not handle things because it made his own choices easier.
He did not blame Gertrude that time.
That mattered.
Skylar did not forgive him immediately.
That mattered too.
Forgiveness is not a schedule.
PART 46
Gertrude never apologized properly.
Her first message after restrictions changed said,
“I’m sorry things got out of hand.”
Things.
As though events escaped by themselves.
Skylar read it.
Then asked,
“Is that an apology?”
I said,
“Not really.”
She nodded.
Then put the card away.
She never answered.
I did not push her.
