Chapter 4

Hearing Michelle's voice after three years was just as irritating as ever.

"Nothing much. Sounds like she made it home safely. I'm hanging up."

She immediately called back.

"Robert! Why did you tell Barbara you were transferring $5,000 to me every month?"

"Did I not? Why did you hide it from her?"

Michelle’s voice went up ten octaves.

"That money was what you owed us! The court ordered it! What does it have to do with you?"

She was still as shameless as ever, twisted in her own sick logic.

But she wasn't Barbara. I had no obligation to tolerate her.

"It's my money, so how does it have nothing to do with me?"

"The court ordered $1,800. I gave $5,000 because I cared about Barbara. That money was for her, not for you."

"Michelle, how could you have the face to pocket Barbara's child support and then turn around and paint me as a deadbeat in front of her?"

"Is this how you raise our child? You don't deserve to be a mother!"

A sharp, hysterical shriek came from the other end of the line.

"I will raise my daughter however I want! It's none of your business!"

"And when did I slander you? Did you not leave us behind to go enjoy yourself in Europe?"

"Did you care about her life or her education for a single second over the last three years? And who do you think paid for the bills and expenses around here? Me!"

"How dare you say I don't deserve to be a mother? You're the one who doesn't deserve to be a father!"

"You didn't take an ounce of responsibility, and now you're lecturing me? The nerve of you!"

She hadn't changed at all.

She still took credit for everything and blamed others for all her own failures.

I took a deep breath, forcing down my rising anger.

"We got divorced three years ago, Michelle. Your life has nothing to do with me. I have no obligation to support you."

"And you were the one who demanded full custody. Raising her is your job. I fulfilled my duty by paying child support."

"I left the house and the car to you, so of course you should be paying the bills. Why should I pay for your lifestyle?"

"I gave you all of our savings and only kept $5,000 for myself. That barely covered my plane ticket and basic rent! Where the hell was I supposed to go to 'live it up'?"

Michelle, completely devoid of logic, sneered.

"Just because we're divorced doesn't mean you stop supporting the family! Just because you gave me the house and car doesn't mean you stop paying! Are you even a man?"

"And you didn't 'give' me those things out of the goodness of your heart! The court awarded them to me! They were mine to begin with!"

She grew more hysterical, her voice dripping with self-righteousness.

"And you only kept $5,000? Who are you trying to fool? Men never tell the truth!"

"You probably hid a fortune from me! That’s why you ran away to another country, because you were afraid I’d find out!"

After three years of building a life abroad, I thought I had developed thick skin.

I thought I could handle anything with calm, rational arguments.

But I was wrong. You can never reason with a madwoman.

I only regretted not putting her in her place before we divorced.

"Michelle, your twisted logic won't change the facts. You’d better start thinking about how you're going to explain this to Barbara."

"And the assets I left were meant for Barbara's well-being. Since you clearly didn't use them on her, I will see you in court."