Night fell over the city as David drove his luxury sedan down the quiet suburban street. Sarah sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window in dead silence.
Sarah: What are you going to do, David?
David: I'm going to talk to her like a human being for the first time in five years.
Sarah: She won't open the door for you.
David: Then I'll sit on her doorstep until the police come.
David pulled up to the modest two-story apartment building where Hannah lived with the boys. The lights in the second-floor living room were brightly lit.
Sarah: I'm coming with you.
David: No, Sarah. You stay in the car. You've done enough.
Sarah: David, please! Don't leave me out here alone!
David: You made this mess, Sarah! Stay in the car!
David got out, shutting the door firmly behind him. He walked up the concrete steps and knocked softly on Hannah's apartment door.
After a few long seconds, the porch light turned on, and the door opened a few inches, held by a heavy brass security chain.
Hannah: I told you not to touch me, David.
David: I'm not touching you, Hannah. I'm standing three feet back. Please... just give me five minutes.
Hannah looked through the crack in the door. Her face was calm, her eyes free from the tears she had shed earlier at the dining table.
Hannah: The boys are sleeping, David. Speak quietly.
David: Mr. Sterling told us about the court filing. He told us you had Father's will the whole time.
Hannah: I did.
David: Why didn't you stop us three years ago, Hannah? Why did you let us go through with the fake probate?
Hannah: Because your father asked me to give you a chance, David.
David blinked, tears welling up in his eyes once again.
David: Father asked you?
Hannah: Before he passed away, he told me that you were weak, but that you had a good heart under your sister's influence. He hoped that having a family of your own would make you stand up to Sarah and do the right thing.
David leaned his head against the doorframe, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs.
David: I failed him, Hannah. I failed him, and I failed you and the boys.
Hannah: You let her humiliate me at every family dinner, David. You let her treat our children like second-class citizens while she spent their trust money on designer clothes.
David: I was terrified she would expose the forged documents if I crossed her!
Hannah: And today, when she smashed that cake across the table and terrified our children, you stood there and apologized to HER before you ever looked at me.
David: I was wrong! I was so wrong, Hannah! Please, let me fix this!
Hannah: It's too late to fix our marriage, David. The petition is filed, and the audit is underway.
David: Are you going to send me to prison?
Hannah: That depends on what you do next, David.