Chapter 18 - The Last Thing David Asked For
David lost his law license the following year.
The disciplinary order cited dishonesty, misconduct, and conduct inconsistent with professional obligations.
Hawthorne, Bell and Mercer permanently removed his name.
The firm became Hawthorne and Bell.
The house was sold.
Assets were divided according to court orders after the fraudulent transfers were addressed.
Anna filed for divorce.
David fought at first.
Then he ran out of money.
Leverage.
And people willing to fight for him.
The divorce was finalized quietly.
No cameras.
No dramatic confrontation.
Just signatures.
At the end of the hearing, David asked Anna if he could speak to her alone.
Rachel objected.
Anna considered it.
Then she agreed to two minutes in a conference room with attorneys nearby.
David stood beside the window.
He looked older.
Thinner.
Less polished.
“I want to ask you something.”
Anna waited.
“If I had known who your father was.”
He stopped.
Anna’s expression changed.
David laughed bitterly.
“That sounds terrible.”
“Yes.”
He rubbed his forehead.
“I keep thinking about Christmas.”
“So do I.”
“If I had known.”
Anna finished the question for him.
“Would you have treated me differently?”
David looked at her.
“I think I would have.”
Anna nodded.
David seemed surprised by her lack of anger.
“That means something.”
“It does.”
“What?”
“It means I was right to leave.”
David’s face tightened.
“I’m trying to be honest.”
“So am I.”
Anna stepped closer.
“You’re telling me the only thing that might have made you respect me was fear of my father.”
David looked away.
Anna continued.
“That isn’t respect.”
She opened the door.
David spoke behind her.
“Do you hate me?”
Anna stopped.
She thought about the kitchen.
The hospital.
The NICU.
The trials.
The endless nights questioning herself.
Then she answered.
“No.”
David looked almost relieved.
Anna finished.
May you like
“I don’t need to.”
She walked out.
