It Was 2 A.m. My Son Knocked On The Door And Cried: “Dad, My Wife Took All My Money And Ran Off With Her Lover…” I Calmly Let Him Into The House And Made A Call: “Start The Plan… Now!” – Part 5

Because unlike you, I really did love you. A heavy silence hung in the room. I could see that Noel’s words had affected Payton. Not because of guilt, but because of the realization of a missed opportunity. She had miscalculated and now she understood it. We need to finish the translations. Kincaid finally said, breaking the silence.

If you want to get your money on time. I nodded, returning to practical matters. Show me what you’ve done so far. We spent the next few hours watching the money return process. Kincaid turned out to be quite skilled at financial manipulation. Not surprising given his past. He successfully converted the cryptocurrency back into dollars, albeit with some losses due to exchange rate fluctuations.

Then he began the process of transferring funds from offshore accounts back to Noel’s account. Lenny watched his every move, occasionally offering advice or pointing out mistakes. I was impressed by my old friend’s professionalism. He really knew all the ins and outs of financial transactions. Payton was mostly silent, only occasionally answering Kincaid’s questions about passwords and access to her accounts.

She looked lost, as if she was only now beginning to realize the consequences of her actions. Noel kept his distance, watching the process with a stony face. He intervened only once when Kincaid suggested leaving some of the money for operating expenses. “Every last scent,” Noel said firmly, “or there will be no deal.

” By evening, most of the money had been returned. About 40,000 remained, which according to Kincaid was stuck in the international transfer process and should be credited to Noel’s account within 24 hours. That’s the most we can do right now, Kincaid explained. Bank transfers between countries are not instantaneous, especially when it comes to jurisdictions like the Cayman Islands.

I looked at Lenny, who nodded, confirming that Kincaid was not lying. Okay, I agreed. But until all the money’s returned, our agreement is not in effect, and you two remain under observation. But we’ve done our part of the deal, Qincaid protested. The process is underway. The money is on its way. The process is underway, but it’s not complete, I replied coldly.

And after your attempt to escape last night, I’m not inclined to trust your word. Kincaid wanted to argue, but Pton put her hand on his shoulder, stopping him. He’s right, Reuben. It’s our own fault. Let’s just end this. Her voice sounded tired and resigned. The game was over and she knew it. We left the room, leaving Lenny to continue the surveillance.

I suggested that Noel have lunch at the cafe across from the motel and he agreed, though without much enthusiasm. The cafe was almost empty, just a couple of truckers at the bar and an elderly couple in the far corner. We ordered coffee and sandwiches, though I doubted Noel would be able to eat anything.

“How are you feeling?” I asked when the waitress had left. Noel was silent for a long time, as if the question had taken him by surprise. “I don’t know,” he finally replied. “Empty. It’s as if everything I thought was real turned out to be a facade. And now all I see are bare walls,” I nodded, understanding the feeling. “Betray always leaves a void behind.

” “It will pass,” I said. Not right away, but it will pass. I’m not sure I want it to pass, Noel said, staring out the window at the deserted landscape. Maybe I need to remember this feeling. Like a vaccine against future mistakes. In his words, I heard an echo of my own thoughts many years ago after my first major betrayal in business.

I also wanted to keep the pain as a reminder, as protection, and in a sense, I succeeded too well. Pain is a bad teacher, son, I said gently. It only teaches fear. And fear is not the best adviser in life. Noah looked at me in surprise. You always told me to be careful, to trust people less. Caution and fear are different things, I said, taking a sip of coffee.

Caution allows you to see danger and avoid it. Fear makes you see danger everywhere, even where there is none. Noel thought about my words. I saw understanding flash in his eyes. And you? Are you afraid? The question caught me off guard with its directness. I had never admitted my fears to anyone, not even Beverly, especially my greatest fear, losing those I love.

Sometimes, I replied honestly, but I try not to let fear control my decisions. Noel nodded as if my admission had helped him see something new. You know, I always thought you weren’t afraid of anything, that you always knew what to do. No one always knows, son. I smiled weakly. We’re all just trying to make the best decisions based on what we know.

How do you know if a decision is right? You don’t, I shrugged. You can only weigh the risks, calculate the consequences, and make a choice, and then live with that choice, whatever it may be. The waitress brought our order, but neither Noel nor I touched our food. We were both too engrossed in conversation. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to trust again, Nel admitted. Not just women.

Anyone you will, I was sure of it. Because without trust, life loses its meaning. You’ll just learn to trust selectively. And that’s a good lesson, albeit a painful one. Do you trust people? Nel asked, looking me in the eye. A few, I replied. Your mother. you a few old friends like Lenny. And how did you know they could be trusted? I thought about it.

It was a good question and I didn’t have a ready answer. Time, I said finally. Time and trials. True friendship, true love stands the test of time and hardship. Noel nodded slowly starting to eat a sandwich as if only now remembering he was hungry. What about Payton and that Kincaid? he asked after a pause. After they return all the money, they’ll disappear. I shrugged.

They’ll go somewhere far away from here and start a new life. Without your money, of course. Do you think they’ll stay together? I smiled. I doubt it. Relationships built on deception and profit are rarely lasting. [snorts] Most likely, they’ll run away as soon as they realize they can’t get anything more from each other.

Noel nodded thoughtfully. You know, it’s strange, but I almost feel sorry for them. Living like that must be very lonely. I looked at my son in surprise. After everything that had happened, he could still feel compassion for those who had hurt him. In that, he was so much like Beverly.

“You’re better than I am, son,” I said quietly. “And I hope you stay that way despite this lesson.” Noel was embarrassed by my words, but I could see that they touched him. Perhaps for the first time in many years, I expressed direct approval of his qualities rather than criticizing his naivity. After lunch, we returned to the motel.

Lenny reported that another 15,000 had been deposited into Noel’s account, and the rest should arrive by morning. They’re both exhausted, Lenny added. Especially her. She seems to be starting to understand what she’s lost. “She didn’t lose it. She threw it away,” Noel corrected. and in his voice I heard not bitterness but simply a statement of fact.

We decided that Lenny would stay and watch over Payton and Kincaid while Noel and I returned to the hotel. It had been a long day and we both needed some rest. On the way to the hotel, Noel was silent, staring out the window at the lights of the casinos and hotels passing by. Las Vegas was coming to life as evening fell, transforming into a shining mirage in the middle of the desert.

We almost got the money back, Noel said finally. But I still feel robbed. Because it’s not about the money, I replied. It’s about the fact that you lost your faith in people, in relationships, maybe even in yourself. Noel nodded, acknowledging the truth of my words. How do you live with that? Day by day, I said more quietly than usual. Allowing yourself to feel the pain, but not letting it dictate your decisions.

Learning from the experience but not letting it make you cynical. How did you do it? No asked. After your mother died, how did you cope? The question hit a raw nerve. The truth was I hadn’t coped. Not completely. I closed myself off, distanced myself from everyone, even my son.

I built walls behind which I hid my pain and fear of new losses. I’m not sure I did, I admitted honestly, but I kept on living. Maybe that’s the answer. Just keep going even when it seems like you can’t. 4 months later, I was sitting on the porch of my house in Palm Desert, watching the sun go down. The evening air was gradually cooling, bringing welcome relief after a hot day.

I sipped whiskey on the rocks and thought about how life had changed during that time, especially Noel’s life. After we returned from Las Vegas, my son spent another week with me. We didn’t talk much. Each of us was lost in our own thoughts. Noel mostly sat on the porch staring out at the desert or wandered around the neighborhood as if trying to drown out his inner pain with physical activity. I didn’t try to talk to him.

I knew he needed time to process what had happened. The money was returned in full, all 300,000. The last transfer arrived the morning after our conversation in the cafe. Lenny made sure that Payton and Kincaid left the motel and drove away. She to the east, he to the west. They parted ways immediately after fulfilling their part of the deal.

Apparently, their love couldn’t withstand the test of failure. When Noel finally returned to Phoenix, I noticed a change in him. He stood straighter, spoke more sharply, and his gaze became more assessing, as if he were constantly looking for a catch. He began divorce proceedings, choosing the most aggressive lawyer from Helen Waverly’s firm. It wasn’t about money.

There was nothing left to divide. but to protect himself as much as possible from any future claims by Payton. In the months that followed, we communicated regularly, more often than before the story. Noel called every week and sometimes came over on weekends. I watched as new traits emerged in him. Cynicism, distrust, calculation.

He became more ambitious at work and less forgiving of others mistakes. He changed his social circle. He stopped seeing the Payton couple as he called their mutual friends and became closer to more successful, influential colleagues. It was my victory. What I had always wanted was for my son to become stronger, to learn to defend himself in a cruel world.

So why, instead of satisfaction, did I feel a vague uneasiness? My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a car pulling up. I recognized Noel’s new Audi. He had replaced his small Japanese car with something more prestigious, appropriate to his position, as he put it. It was one of many small changes that together formed a new personality.

He got out of the car and I noticed more changes. An expensive suit, a fashionable haircut, the confident movements of a man who knows exactly what he wants. He was not at all like the confused, griefstricken son who had knocked on my door four months ago. “Hi, Dad.” Noel climbed onto the porch and shook my hand firmly.

I wasn’t expecting you today. I pointed to the chair next to me. Were you passing by? Noel smiled as he sat down. You could say that. I was at a meeting with potential investors in Linta. I thought, why not stop by? I nodded toward the bottle of whiskey. Care for some? Why not? He said, loosening his tie. It’s been a long day.

I poured him a whiskey and silently handed him the glass. We sat for a while watching the last rays of the sun paint the desert gold and crimson. How did the meeting go? I finally asked. Productive. Noel took a sip of whiskey. They’re ready to invest in my project. Not as much as I had hoped, but it’s enough to get started. Project? I raised an eyebrow.

You didn’t tell me about any project. Noel smiled. Not the open smile I remembered, but something more reserved, more calculated. I’m leaving the company. Starting my own firm, consulting in construction and engineering. I was surprised. Noel always seemed happy with his job at a large construction corporation.

Valued stability in the team. That’s a big step. Are you sure you’re ready? More than ready? No nodded. Working for someone else is limiting. I want to build something of my own. On my own terms, I recognized those words almost verbatim what I had said when I started my business 40 years ago. It was like listening to an echo from the past.

And when did you make that decision? It was a gradual process, Noel shrugged. But I made the final decision after the incident with Mitchell. Mitchell? I don’t remember him mentioning that name. My boss, Noel explained. He made me take the blame for a failed project that he himself had ruined. I could have resisted, but I decided it was a good reason to leave and start my own business.

I waited for the right moment, gathered evidence of his incompetence, and used it as leverage to get good references and compensation. I looked closely at my son. 6 months ago, he would have simply swallowed the injustice or at best directly expressed his dissatisfaction. Now he was thinking strategically, calculating his moves using leverage, just as I had taught him.

Sounds uneffective, I said cautiously. Exactly, Noel nodded. I’ve learned a lot over the past few months, especially after Pton and I tensed at the mention of her name. Did she try to contact you? Twice. Noel took another sip of whiskey. First, she sent a long letter of apology. Then, she tried to call. I didn’t answer. Right.

I nodded approvingly. There’s no point in going back to the past. It’s not about the past. Noel shook his head. It’s just that there’s no point in wasting time on people who aren’t useful. Something in that phrase made me flinch inwardly. People who aren’t useful. Such a cynical, cold attitude. I often thought that way myself, but hearing it from Noel was wrong.

Do you know what’s going on with her now? I asked, trying to understand how deep the changes in my son had gone. I know, Noel shrugged. I asked Lenny to keep an eye on her. Just in case, I looked at him in surprise. You hired Lenny without me? You gave me his contact information yourself. Noel reminded me.

You said he might come in handy in the future. I took his advice. I did give him Lenny’s contact information, but I didn’t expect my son to use a private investigator to spy on his ex-wife. And what did he find out? I asked, not sure I wanted to know the answer. Nothing much, Noel said, sounding uninterested.

She moved to Albuquerque and got a job as an administrator at some clinic. She lives alone and doesn’t make much money. Fair punishment, I think. There was no malice in his voice, just a cold satisfaction that justice had prevailed. But the lack of compassion bothered me. The old Noel, despite the pain of betrayal, would have found the strength, if not to forgive, then at least not to rejoice in other people’s misfortunes.

And Kincaid, I decided to continue the conversation. He’s even worse off, Noel smirked. He tried to pull a scam on another client of that clinic and got caught. He’s now under investigation for fraud. And that makes you happy? I watched my son’s reaction closely. No, it doesn’t, Noel shrugged.

It just confirms what you always said. In the end, people get what they deserve. I never said such words. On the contrary, I have always believed that the world is unfair, and that is precisely why one must be prepared to defend oneself. But Noel seemed to have created his own version of my philosophy, a harsher, more cynical one. You know, son, I said cautiously, being prepared for the worst does not mean wishing it on others.

Noel looked at me with slight surprise. I don’t wish them harm. I just don’t feel sorry that they got what they deserved. We fell silent again. The sun had completely disappeared below the horizon, and now twilight enveloped the desert. I turned on the lights on the porch, creating an island of light in the gathering darkness.

I met someone, Noel said suddenly, changing the subject. A woman? I was surprised. I didn’t expect him to be ready for a new relationship so soon. Lorraine Brooks. Noel nodded. She’s a lawyer. Works for a firm that represents one of my investors. And how long have you been seeing each other? 2 months. Noel took a sip of whiskey.

But I’m not rushing into anything. I did a little research on her past, her finances, her connections. Everything’s clean. I stared at my son. You check out the women you date. Of course. He looked at me like I was a naive child. After Payton, I’m not taking any chances. It’s better to know everything in advance than to get an unpleasant surprise.

I didn’t know how to respond. On the one hand, his caution was understandable. On the other hand, a relationship that began with scrutiny and suspicion was unlikely to become the basis for something sincere and deep. And does she know about your investigation? Of course not. Noel shook his head. That would ruin everything.

Women love mysteries and secrets, don’t they? There was something cynical, almost contemptuous in his voice when he spoke of women, as if they were not human beings, but some kind of alien creatures to be studied and manipulated. Relationships shouldn’t start with secrets and mistrust, son, I said gently. Really? Noel raised an eyebrow.

Didn’t you and mom keep some things from each other? Were you always completely honest with her? The question hit a nerve. It was true that I didn’t always tell Beverly about the difficulties of the business, about some of the questionable decisions I had to make, but that was out of a desire to protect her, to spare her unnecessary anxiety.

It wasn’t because I didn’t trust her. “Your mother and I trusted each other,” I said firmly. “Even if we sometimes kept details to ourselves.” “Exactly,” Noel nodded as if I had confirmed his point of view. “All relationships are built on selective truth. I’m just more systematic in my approach. I realized the conversation was going nowhere.

Noel had taken what he wanted from my philosophy and distorted it into something harsher, more cynical. And now he was using my own arguments against me. Listen, son, I decided to change tactics. I’m glad you’ve become more cautious, that you’ve learned to protect yourself. But don’t let your experience with Payton define your whole life.

Not all people are like her. I know. Noel nodded. That’s exactly why I’m doing the background check. To separate the trustworthy from the rest, I sighed. He didn’t understand or didn’t want to understand. How are you doing, Dad? Noel asked, clearly wanting to change the subject. Are you still seeing that woman? What’s her name? Carol, I shook my head.

No, we broke up a couple of months ago. Why? Noel’s voice sounded curious, but not sympathetic. She wanted more than I could offer. I shrugged. It’s hard to change habits at my age. In reality, Carol left because she said I was emotionally unavailable. That I kept her at a distance, not allowing her to truly get to know me.

She was right, of course. After Beverly died, I didn’t let anyone get too close. I was afraid of losing again. Reasonable. Nel nodded. Why risk comfort for uncertain prospects? I looked at my son with a slight sadness. He interpreted my loneliness as a conscious choice, not as a result of fear and an inability to open up again.