The Day I Walked Away

PART 2 — THE MONEY HE STOLE

Steven called me seventeen times that evening.

I ignored every call.

Then he started sending messages.

Bianca, what did you tell the bank?

Why is my account restricted?

You can’t just freeze our money without discussing it with me.

I read each message without responding.

He still didn’t understand.

The next morning, I met Daniel Brooks, my attorney, at his office in downtown Houston.

He placed several documents on the desk.

“Bianca, I’ve reviewed the statements you provided. There’s something you need to know.”

I leaned forward.

“What is it?”

“Your husband opened a credit line against the rental property six months ago. The application lists the property as collateral.”

My heart dropped.

“How much?”

“Eighty-five thousand dollars.”

I stared at him.

“That property belongs to both of us.”

“Exactly. And according to these records, he submitted documents indicating that he had your authorization.”

I shook my head.

“I never signed anything.”

Daniel nodded.

“That’s why we’re requesting an investigation.”

He turned another page.

There were transfers from the credit line to an account under Caroline Hayes’s name.

More than sixty thousand dollars.

I felt sick.

“So he wasn’t just giving her money from our rental account.”

“No. It appears he may have used borrowed money secured by your jointly owned property.”

For several seconds, I couldn’t speak.

Then my phone rang.

Steven.

I answered.

“Bianca! What the hell is going on?”

His voice was furious.

“Good morning, Steven.”

“Don’t play games with me. The bank says there’s a dispute involving the rental property.”

“Then you should ask your bank.”

“You know exactly what happened! You had no right to do this.”

I looked at Daniel.

“Actually, I do have the right to dispute financial activity I never authorized.”

He went silent.

Then his voice softened.

“Listen, sweetheart. We can work this out privately.”

I almost smiled.

“Sweetheart?”

“Don’t be like this. Caroline was going through a difficult time. I was trying to help her.”

“With eighty-five thousand dollars?”

Silence.

I continued.

“You put our property at risk for another woman, Steven. Don’t call me sweetheart and pretend this was a misunderstanding.”

“Bianca, I made a mistake.”

“No. You made several decisions.”

I ended the call.

For the first time, I felt no guilt about refusing to make his life easier.

But Steven wasn’t finished.

That afternoon, he showed up at Natalie’s house.

He stood on her front porch, holding a bouquet of roses.

I opened the door but didn’t invite him inside.

“Can we talk?” he asked.

“About what?”

“Us.”

I glanced at the flowers.

“You should give those to Caroline.”

His expression changed.

“Bianca, please. I know I messed up, but eight years can’t just disappear.”

I looked directly at him.

“You made them disappear when you decided another woman deserved our money more than your wife.”

He lowered his voice.

“Caroline and I aren’t together anymore.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Already?”

“She got upset when I told her I couldn’t give her any more money.”

For a moment, I simply stared at him.

Then I laughed quietly.

“That’s unfortunate.”

“I’m serious, Bianca. I think she was using me.”

I stepped back.

“Now you know how it feels.”

I closed the door.

And this time, I didn’t look through the window to see whether he was still standing there.