Part 2: My son h.i.t me 30 times in front of his wife… so the next morning, while he sat in his office, I sold the house he thought was his.

I stopped breathing.

"Who?"

"An investment group."

I frowned.

"What investment group?"

She shook her head.

"He wouldn't tell us."

I stared at her.

"And the six million?"

Kristen began sobbing.

"That was supposed to pay for the transaction."

I felt sick.

"Using my company's money."

She nodded.

"Malcolm told us we'd all receive a share after the sale."

I looked at her.

"How much were you promised?"

Her voice broke.

"Eight million."

For several seconds, I couldn't speak.

Eight million dollars.

That was the price they'd placed on my dignity.

My safety.

My right to control the company I'd built.

Then Kristen whispered something unexpected.

"Gloria, Malcolm isn't the one who planned the whole thing."

My stomach tightened.

"What?"

She looked terrified.

"He was working with someone you trust."

I felt cold.

"Who?"

Before she could answer, headlights swept across the driveway.

Kristen went pale.

"Oh, God."

She backed away from the door.