Daniel walked out looking utterly broken. Not because he had lost his wife—he still didn’t grasp the emotional weight of that—but because he had lost the safety net that had shielded him from the consequences of his own uselessness.
The aftermath for Theresa’s family was swift and unyielding.
Without my monthly infusions, Theresa quickly discovered the harsh reality she had been avoiding for years: she couldn’t afford her life. The mortgage was far too high, the property taxes were overwhelming, her personal credit cards were maxed out, and now she was facing secondary liability for the fraudulent loans Lauren had taken out in her name.
Aaron demanded a full accounting from his wife. Lauren’s web of lies unraveled completely under scrutiny. Her designer bags were financed, her lavish dinners were charged to high-interest credit cards, and even the expensive catering for the birthday party where I was humiliated had been ordered on credit she couldn’t repay.
Aaron filed for separation almost immediately. Theresa filed a formal police report regarding the identity theft and unauthorized credit applications. The subsequent investigation brought criminal fraud charges against Lauren.
I didn’t celebrate her downfall. I didn’t need to watch her suffer; I just needed to ensure I wasn’t forced to pay for her mistakes.
Three weeks later, Theresa showed up at the reception desk of my company.
She wasn’t wearing her designer jewelry. She wasn’t wearing the oversized sunglasses she usually wore like a crown. She looked frail, exhausted, and ten years older.
Paula looked at me from across the room. “Do you want security to escort her out?”
I paused for a moment. “No. Let her in.”
Theresa walked into my office slowly and took a seat across from my desk. For the first time since I had met her, she didn’t open her mouth to issue a demand or passive-aggressive insult.
“Mariana… we had to sell the car,” she said softly.
I said nothing.
“And some of my jewelry.”
Still, I remained silent.
“Aaron is moving into a small apartment,” she continued, her voice trembling. “I’m putting the house on the market.”
“That sounds practical,” I replied evenly.
Her lower lip quivered. “The bank offered a repayment plan, but I can’t afford it. The truth is… I could never afford it.”