[Next Day – Final Settlement Meeting]
The conference room felt sterile and over-lit. Two lawyers sat at opposite ends of the long mahogany table. On one side, Judith and her attorney, Marla Quinn. On the other, Alan, flanked by Irina Denvers in a slate-gray power suit. Charlie sat next to Alan, arms crossed, chewing gum like it was his last source of joy.
The silence was thick until Irina slid the settlement packet forward. "Everything is outlined. Assets, property, custody. Alan is reclaiming full ownership of the house, vehicle titles, and all financial accounts previously signed over under duress."
Judith's hands trembled as she went over the documents. Each line detailed everything she had taken from Alan, and everything she now had to return. The house. The savings account. The mutual fund she had transferred to her name six months ago. All of it.
She finally spoke, voice trembling slightly. "Fine. I'll sign it. But Alan... can we talk? Alone?"
Irina didn't move. "No."
Charlie leaned forward, smirking. "We're good right here. Go on. Whatever you want to say, say it."
Judith turned to Alan. "We had something real. We were once partners. You always supported and loved me. I lost my way, it's true, but I see things clearly now. I don't want this to be the end. I want us back, like we were before."
Alan opened his mouth, but Irina raised a hand. [He probably would have said, "Really?" with his annoying grin.]
"This is not a romance novel; it's a legal meeting," she said, her voice icy. "You're fortunate that Alan has chosen not to press charges. This is the deal: no lawsuits, no criminal action, no jail time. Just sign the agreement, pack your things, and leave the house. Also, withdraw your custody claim for Jake."
Judith looked stunned. "You're giving him full custody?"
Irina nodded. "Correct. You made no effort to maintain a stable relationship with your son. The timeline we submitted shows a pattern of manipulation and neglect. Alan will retain full custody."
Judith turned to Alan again. "What about your job? You're working full-time. Who's going to take care of Jake?"
Alan looked down for a moment, then cleared his throat.
"I'll figure it out. I can hire someone. Or maybe someone in the family can step in. But I'll manage. You don't need to worry about that anymore."
Judith's expression hardened, then broke into something close to grief. She looked back at the papers.
"All of it gone," she whispered.
Irina leaned forward. "You're still walking out free. If I were you, I'd take the deal and count my blessings."
Judith hesitated, then signed. One page. Then another. Her lawyer gave a single nod of approval.
Irina took the folder, checked every signature, and closed it with a crisp snap.
"It's done."
Judith sat in stunned silence. Charlie stood, stretched, and gave Alan a clap on the back.
"You didn't fuck it up. I'm proud of you," he said.
Alan gave a small, shaky smile. "Thanks."
Judith stood up slowly, gathering her bag and coat. "I'll get my things and go," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She paused near the door, glancing back at Alan one last time, but he didn't look up to meet her gaze. With that, she left.
The door clicked shut behind her.
...
[That night]
Alan stepped into his house like it belonged to him for the first time in years. No Judith barking orders. No boxes of Herbalife stacked in the garage. Just peace, beer in the fridge, and his name back on the deed. Jake was in his room, doing whatever silly things he does.
He walked through each room slowly, touching the counters, opening drawers, like he was reconnecting with a long-lost friend. For once, he felt like an alpha. A man who had stood his ground and won.
There was an evil grin on his lips.
As he approached the front window, he noticed movement near the driveway. Judith stood by the curb with two suitcases, her coat pulled tight around her body. She wasn't moving quickly. Her steps were slow, heavy. She stopped just before reaching the sidewalk, turned around, and looked back toward the house.
Alan opened the door.
Judith looked up, her eyes red and swollen. She sniffled.
"This is it," she said softly. "I've got nowhere to go. I've got no job. The money I have will barely get me through the week."
Alan said nothing. Just stood in the doorway, unsure if he was hearing her or falling into another one of her plays.
"My parents lost everything last year in a scam, you already know that. They're barely affording their meds. I can't go back there. Even Herb... I trusted him, but he just ran away. I can't go anywhere."
Her voice trembled as she spoke. "I know I don't deserve it, but I'm asking anyway. Can I stay here? Just for a few days. Just until I find something. Please, Alan. I'm begging you."
Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she appeared small and defeated. She looked nothing like the sharp-edged woman who had once stormed through his life like a wrecking ball.
And Alan, the poor sucker with a soft spot the size of a crater, moved toward her.
Without saying a word, he pulled her into a hug. Held her tight. The same woman who had gutted him emotionally, financially, and legally. The same woman who manipulated him with the skill of a con artist in pearls.
She buried her face in his chest and sobbed. Alan patted her back gently.
"Oh, Judith, that's terrible," He said with a happy grin.
Somewhere deep in his brain, a voice tried to scream at him to stop. To shut the door. To remember everything. But the moment was already over.
Judith was inside the house again.
...
[Next Morning – Alan's House]
Sunlight spilled through the blinds, casting soft stripes across the bedroom. Alan stirred, then slowly opened his eyes. The bed felt warm. Familiar. He turned his head to the right, and there she was.
Judith.
Still asleep. Her hair spread out over the pillow like old memories come back to life.
Alan grinned, a lazy, satisfied, quietly triumphant grin. He stretched and let the sheets fall from his chest. The room felt like a celebration of victory. After years of humiliation and loss, he was finally back in his bed, in his house, with his wife, who didn't say that famous quote she always used to repeat during sex: "Get that thing away from me."
Well, ex-wife. But maybe not for long.
He whispered to himself, "It's for Jake." As if that explained it all and made it noble.
But he knew better. He felt good, needed, and wanted again. She sucked him dry and went wild last night. That made all logic seem irrelevant.
Judith stirred beside him, and Alan kissed her forehead before slipping out of bed. He got dressed, humming to himself as he made a mediocre cup of coffee and downed it like it was champagne. Then checked on Jake, who was snoring like a bull.
Then he grabbed his duffel bag and headed for Charlie's house.
...
[Charlie's House – Late Morning]
Alan pulled into the driveway, still grinning like a fool. His walk was relaxed, almost cocky, as he made his way up the porch steps. He used the spare key to open the door.
Lisa sat on the long couch, sipping green juice and scrolling through her phone. Charlie was on the single couch, playing guitar in boxers and a Hawaiian shirt.
Alan walked in and closed the door.
Charlie looked up, noticed the grin. Narrowed his eyes.
"That better not be a 'Judith's back in my bed' grin," he said.
Alan laughed a little too fast. "No, no, she left last night. Packed up, took her stuff, and left." He pointed at his face, "This is my victory smile." He walked toward the guest room. "Well, I'll quickly grab my things and go back."
Lisa gave him a slow, sideways glance. Charlie didn't say anything for a moment.
"He did it," He said to her.
"Yup! 100%," Lisa said with a sigh, shaking her head.
"You wanted me to help him. So, I did. I went all my way, let him live in my house, and even took the risk of contacting my ex to win him back everything. And now, here we are back to the start," Charlie said flatly.
"My bad. You were right. Next time, don't take that call," Lisa said before sipping her weird green juice, which, according to her, makes her skin glow.
Charlie walked to the guest room and just watched Alan closely as he started folding his spare clothes and stuffing them into his bag.
"You slept with her," Charlie said flatly.
Alan froze for half a second, then forced a chuckle. "What? No. Of course not. That's nonsense."
"Okay. If you say so," Charlie said.
Alan zipped up his bag quickly. "Look, I just wanted to say thank you. Really. For the house, for the lawyer, for everything."
Charlie didn't respond right away. He leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, watching Alan with a level of calm that was more dangerous than yelling. "You know," He said slowly, "I was gonna ask you to stay a few more days. Just to chill. Maybe even celebrate. But... you seem eager to get back."
Alan kept his eyes on the bag. "Yeah, I think I've got it under control now. Things are… looking up."
Charlie nodded, almost amused. "Uh-huh. Looking up."
He turned slightly and picked a bit of lint off his shirt.
"You ever see those documentaries about animals raised in captivity?" he said. "They get released into the wild, and the first thing they do is often walk right back into the cage because it's familiar and comfortable. Even if the cage was keeping them from true freedom."
Alan looked up. "What are you saying?"
Charlie shrugged. "Nothing, really. Just... next time you call me in the middle of the night, crying about losing your house or your son or your dignity, don't be surprised if I don't pick up. Or if I answer and tell you the guest room's got a brand-new padlock."
Alan opened his mouth, closed it, then looked down again.
Charlie pushed off the doorframe. "You're a grown man, Alan. Free to make your own decisions. Just don't come crawling back when the fire burns you again. I'm fresh out of burn cream."
Alan tried to smile. "She said it was just temporary. Just until she... Ah!" He realized that he babbled out the truth.
Charlie held up a hand. "Save it. I don't want the details. I already know. And I don't need to watch the rerun."
Alan's shoulders dropped. "You think I made a mistake."
Charlie picked up Alan's comb from the desk beside the door and tossed it into the duffel bag. "I think you made a choice. And choices have consequences."
He turned to leave the room, then paused in the doorway.
"You left my door unlocked last night," he added without turning around. "I locked it for you. One last favor. Try not to make me regret it."
Then he walked out, humming some tune that didn't sound very cheerful.
Lisa looked up as he passed. "How bad?"
Charlie grabbed her juice and took a sip. "She's in the house. The queen is back. Long may she reign and ruin his life."
Lisa rolled her eyes. "He's hopeless."
"Can you believe it?" Charlie sat back on the couch, looking angry. "After everything... Haaa... Whatever. I ain't helping him again." He took a couple of deep breaths. There's no point getting angry over spilled tea. With Alan out of the house, he can do anything he wants without him popping up.
He looked at Lisa and gave a slight nod toward the dining table with a sly smile.
She narrowed her eyes with a knowing smile.
---
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