Sharon burst in a moment later. She stepped on my hand and yanked Elroy into her arms.
Elroy sobbed dramatically, his voice trembling. “Sharon… I just wanted to check on him, but he accused me of stealing his company. He also said he’d make me end up just like him…”
Sharon’s eyes blazed with fury.
“Dean Frazier, are you insane?!” she shouted at me. “Elroy came here out of kindness and you threaten him? You’re disgusting!”
Willow pointed at me, screaming, “You’re mean! Bad guy! I don’t want you. I don’t want a bad guy to be my dad. I want Uncle Elroy to be my dad.”
Without letting me say a single word, they all turned on me.
But… I no longer cared. My heart had already died for them.
Slowly, I pushed myself up, leaning on the bed for support. Sharon and Willow wouldn’t even look at me anymore. They each took one of Elroy’s arms and walked out like I was nothing.
I discharged myself from the hospital and went home alone.
Four hours before departure, I threw every family photo into a steel drum and set them on fire.
Three hours before departure, I sent all the video recordings to my lawyer.