Blaine looked at me with eyes full of pain and shame.
“The worst part is I was almost relieved when it was over. The responsibility felt too heavy. The memories of building that company with you were too painful. Richard made it seem like he was doing me a favor, taking the burden off my shoulders so I could focus on recovery.”
“But recovery never came.”
“How could it? Every dollar I might have used for treatment, Richard claimed was needed for business debts or legal fees. When I lost the house 2 years later, he said the market had crashed and there was nothing he could do. By the time I realized I’d been systematically robbed, I had no resources left to fight back and no credibility with anyone who might have helped me.”
The scope of Richard’s betrayal was staggering. He hadn’t just stolen money or property. He’d stolen our entire future, our golden years together, our chance to grow old side by side. He’d condemned his own father to more than a decade of homelessness and addiction while keeping his mother isolated and heartbroken.
