My father had specifically reminded me back then to keep hiding the family's wealth. "Time reveals a person's true character," he'd said.
Now, it was clear just how right he was.
I took a deep breath, pulled out my phone, and called Tim Harding. "Fine, I'll agree to the divorce. But Tim's debts are not mine. I'm calling him right now to settle this."
I dialed again and again. Tim never picked up.
Adeline slapped the phone right out of my hand. It clattered to the floor. "You know damn well my brother's traveling overseas and can't answer his phone!" she shrieked. "That's the only reason you dare accuse him!"
Peggy kicked the phone across the room. "Your debt, your problem. Who else is going to pay it if not you?"
Right then, the front door slammed open with a bang.
Alex Swanson stormed in, face twisted with fury. "Ronald Mason, you're a piece of garbage! A hundred million dollars in debt!"
Adeline threw herself into his arms. "Alex, he even has the nerve to say my brother's the one who borrowed the money."
Alex kissed the top of her head. "Why don't you just come stay at my place? If those debt collectors show up again, what if they scare you and our baby?"
When he saw the shock on my face, Alex let out a mocking laugh. "What's so surprising? Where did you think Adeline went every time you were away on business?"
"She was at my place. She's slept in my bed more times than she's ever slept in yours."
After calling me garbage one more time, he took Adeline by the hand, and the three of them walked out of my home without a backward glance.
It wasn't just Adeline's betrayal that stunned me. It was Alex.
Alex and I had been brothers since college. A few years back, when he lost his job, he came to me for a loan. I didn't hesitate. I lent him a hundred thousand dollars on the spot.
When he still couldn't find work, I recommended him to a company. He worked his way up to a senior executive position, pulling in five million a year.
What I never told him was that the company belonged to my father.
I never imagined this ungrateful traitor had been sleeping with my wife.
I was still reeling from the memories when my phone buzzed with a call from one of my employees. "Mr. Mason, you need to get back to the office. Now."
I didn't know what was going on, but I rushed back.
The scene that greeted me was chaos. Adeline had brought Alex and Peggy to my company, and all three of them were causing a scene.
Adeline was at the legal department, filling out paperwork. "Effective immediately, I am no longer a shareholder of this pathetic company. I'm pulling out!"
Alex snatched up the withdrawal agreement. "That's right. Get the shares transferred and the divorce finalized. Then that hundred-million-dollar debt has nothing to do with us."
Peggy marched straight up to the clients waiting in the lobby. "The owner of this company is a crook!" she hollered. "Don't do business here! Leave while you still can!"
One by one, the clients stood up, gathered their things, and headed for the door.
That wasn't enough for Peggy. She stormed through the office floor, shouting at the employees. "Keep an eye on your valuables, people! Your scumbag boss owes a hundred million dollars! He could clean out everything worth a dime and disappear overnight. Don't count on ever seeing a paycheck again!"
When I walked in, my coworkers immediately tucked away their personal belongings, whispering to each other in hushed tones.
"So the boss is a hundred million in debt? He doesn't even take care of his own wife. You think he'd really skip town with the money?"
"I never would've guessed he was that kind of person. Now his wife and mother-in-law are here making a scene. Let's see how he handles this."
"Even his own buddy turned on him. That means it's gotta be true. We should all start looking for new jobs."
I rushed in. "What gives you the right to come in here spreading lies? I will sue every one of you for any losses this company suffers!"
Alex stepped in front of Adeline, chin raised, playing the righteous hero. "You owe a hundred million dollars. That's a fact!"
