MY HUSBAND KICKED OVER OUR DINING TABLE THREE DAYS AFTER OUR WEDDING AND ROARED, “A WOMAN NEEDS TO BE HIT TO LEARN HER PLACE,” BUT HE DIDN’T KNOW THE TOWNHOUSE WAS MINE, HIS COMPANY STILL NEEDED MY UNSIGNED $5 MILLION, AND EVERY WORD HE SAID WAS ALREADY BACKING UP TO THE CLOUD / Chapter 23 / 25

Chapter 23 - Patricia After Prison

Patricia contacted me once after release.

Through Rachel.

Request:

A single written apology.

No meeting.

I allowed letter.

Claire,

For most of my life I believed family meant you did not expose what people did inside it. My husband was difficult. I hid it. Daniel was difficult. I taught women around him to absorb it. When CrossWave began failing, I treated your money like family money before you agreed.

Then:

The day in dining room, I knew about Meridian. I was afraid if you walked out, everything we had done would surface. I told you to apologize because I needed you to become manageable again.

That sentence was the first honest description of her behavior.

Then:

I am sorry.

I did not write back.

Not because apology meaningless.

Because response was not owed.

Patricia moved to Wisconsin near her sister.

Worked part-time as office manager after supervision.

Paid restitution schedule.

Did not contact me again.

She and Daniel remained in contact.