Luck was on my side. A man pulled up in a modest car, exuding an air of urgency. Modesty in a vehicle often signals someone cautious with their money—someone who might also be easier to negotiate with.
After preparing my pitch, I approached him. "Excuse me, sir, could I have a word with you?"
When he looked up, I realized I recognized him—it was Karter Miles, a lawyer I’d met at the courthouse.
"Mr. Miles, what a coincidence..." I said awkwardly, memories of our first encounter flashing back. That day, I had been at my lowest, clutching my stomach in pain, waiting fruitlessly for Patrick.
"Indeed, quite the coincidence. What brings you here?" he asked, his tone was neutral but curious.
Not wanting to divulge too much, I brushed it off with a vague excuse. Karter didn’t seem convinced. After finishing his errand, he approached me again.
"I know a bit about your situation," he said. "If you trust me, I might be able to help."
His offer gave me pause. After some thought, I decided to confide in him, sharing my plan to sell the house.
To my surprise, Karter agreed to help.
We carefully mapped out the next steps, ensuring the process would be both swift and seamless. With the plan set, I returned home to inform Patrick.
Standing at my front door, I couldn’t shake the annoyance bubbling inside me. I dreaded the confrontation, but there was no escaping it—I had to face them.
I knocked, and Patrick opened the door, his face lighting up with smug disbelief.
"See? I told you. What’s the point of all that fuss when you always come crawling back in the end?" His tone dripped with contempt and disdain.
Ignoring his words, I stepped inside, immediately noting that Ria and her son weren’t around.
"Ria said it’s inconvenient for her to stay here and didn’t want to upset you. So, I rented her an apartment. Satisfied now?" he said, his voice brimming with admiration for Ria, as if she were some saint.
I gave a nonchalant reply, "As long as you’re happy."
My calmness took him by surprise, but I wasn’t done.
"I’ve been thinking about selling this house," I said, glancing around. "Maybe we can get a bigger place in the southern suburbs. You’ve been eyeing that area for a while, haven’t you? It’s closer to your office."
He looked at me, stunned. The idea of moving had been his suggestion a while back, but I had refused then. Now, I was using it to bait him.