“Are you serious right now?” she shouted. “Do you understand what I have been through these past three days trying to survive with my kids?”
Her voice cracked under the weight of everything she had endured, from sleeping in a car to answering questions she could not explain.
The woman did not step back or defend herself.
“I know exactly what you went through,” she said quietly. “And I am sorry, but it was the only way to keep you safe.”
“Safe from what exactly?” she demanded.
This time the answer came without hesitation.
“Safe from him.”
The room felt colder as those words settled into place.
“You don’t understand the situation,” the woman continued. “He is involved with people who are dangerous, not just reckless but truly dangerous.”
Her breath caught as fear replaced anger.
“What kind of people are you talking about?”
“People he owes money to,” the woman said. “A lot of money, and they do not just take money when debts are not paid.”
Each word landed like a heavy blow against her chest.
“That cannot be true,” she whispered, shaking her head as if denial could protect her.
“It is true, and he knew it for a long time,” the woman replied.