Chapter 8 - DUSTIN FINALLY STOPPED LYING
Eight months after I walked out, Dustin requested mediation.
I expected strategy.
Instead, he arrived looking exhausted.
Cabrillo was gone.
His brothers were facing debts.
His relationship with Brenda had deteriorated.
The assault case remained pending.
He looked at me across the conference table.
“I’m sorry.”
I waited.
He continued.
“I lied about the cash.”
“Yes.”
“I took the money.”
“Yes.”
“I forged your authorization.”
“You arranged it.”
“Yes.”
“I hit your mother.”
“You slapped her twice.”
His face tightened.
“Yes.”
Words matter.
He continued.
“I thought I could fix Cabrillo before you found out.”
“Why?”
“Because it was going to work.”
I almost smiled.
“No. Why did that give you the right to use my money?”
He had no answer.
Finally:
“It didn’t.”
Better.
Then he said:
“You helped my family before.”
There it was.
Even inside an apology.
I looked at him.
“Because I chose to.”
He nodded.
“I know that now.”
“No.”
I leaned forward.
“You knew it then.”
Silence.
“You just decided my choice was less important than your project.”
His eyes filled.
“Yes.”
That was the answer.
Not addiction.
Not desperation.
Not family pressure.
Choice.
Then I asked:
“Why Mom?”
He covered his face.
“I panicked.”
“You invented a theft.”
“Yes.”
“You hit her.”
“Yes.”
“Then told me to choose.”
“Yes.”
“Did you expect me to choose you?”
He looked at me.
“Yes.”
That hurt more than I expected.
Because he knew how much I loved him.
He counted on it.
Not as affection.
As leverage.
I stood.
Mediation continued through attorneys.
Financial terms were complicated.
But the emotional part ended there.
Dustin asked:
“Is there any chance?”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“Because of your mother?”
“No.”
He looked confused.
“Because of you.”
He finally understood.
May you like
Maybe.
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