Chapter 1: Fifteen Minutes
Chapter 1: Fifteen Minutes
The apartment became silent the moment I told the dispatcher what had happened.
Daniel laughed.
Vivian laughed even harder.
"You called the police because your husband disciplined you?" Vivian sneered.
I calmly touched the red mark spreading across my cheek.
"No," I replied. "I called because he assaulted me."
Daniel rolled his eyes.
"Good luck explaining that."
I sat down at the dining table and waited.
For the first time all evening, I wasn't angry.
I was finished.
Fifteen minutes later, a knock echoed through the apartment.
Two police officers entered.
One of them immediately noticed the swelling on my face.
The other asked Daniel what happened.
Before I could answer, Vivian jumped in.
"She's dramatic."
Daniel nodded.
"It was barely a tap."
The officer's expression hardened.
"A tap?"
Neither of them realized how bad that sounded.
The officers separated us and took statements.
Then one officer asked the simplest question in the room.
"Who owns this residence?"
Daniel answered immediately.
"I do."
Vivian smiled proudly.
"It's my son's home."
I slowly opened a folder from my work bag.
Inside were the property deed, ownership records, and the prenuptial agreement.
I handed them to the officer.
The room changed instantly.
The officer reviewed the documents.
Then looked at Daniel.
Then looked at me.
"Sir," he said carefully, "this property belongs solely to your wife."
Daniel blinked.
"What?"
The officer repeated himself.
"This apartment is legally hers."
Vivian's face went pale.
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I almost felt sorry for them.
Almost.
