Unseen Goodbye

"I've already sold the house."

I knew what Ruby was about to say.

I cut her off with a calm voice, "The contract's already signed. Plus, that house was fully paid for by my parents. It's none of your business, so you don't get to make decisions about it."

Ruby didn't expect me to be so straightforward and her brow furrowed.

"Liam, what's wrong with you? After all these years we've been married, are you really going to make a big deal over an old house?"

I set her straight, "An old house that's worth 300 thousand dollars?

"And what exactly have you done in all these years that makes you think I shouldn't care about that 300 thousand dollars?

"Was it getting me thrown in jail? Or was it cheating on me?" I kept pressing her.

Ruby was speechless, her cheeks red with anger. After a moment, she blurted out, "Liam, I can't believe you're such a mean and selfish person."

Wilson smirked, thinking he had won. He patted Ruby's back, trying to comfort her.

"Let it go, Ruby. Don't be upset over this. It'll just make me feel worse."

Then he turned to me and said, "Liam, this is my fault, not Ruby's. If you're going to be mad, be mad at me, not her.

"I know you don't want to see me, so I'll just go now."

He was about to pat my shoulder when I saw a sly look in his eyes.

Suddenly, he grabbed my hand, shoved it against his chest, and fell to the ground with a grunt.

Before I could even understand what was happening, Ruby slapped me.

"Liam, are you out of your mind? Wilson was just trying to help, and you hit him?"

She helped Wilson up, glaring at me the whole time.

My face stung from the slap, and I was so angry I wanted to fight back. However, I then saw Wilson's smug look and realized that I had to stay calm.

I didn't know what they were up to, but I knew better than to fall for their tricks.

I didn't need to get in trouble over someone like him.

I held back my anger, but Ruby wasn't done. She rushed to the door, messed up her hair and clothes on purpose, flung the door open, and yelled, "Help, someone's being violent!"

Neighbors came running when they heard her. Ruby had already told everyone about my time in jail, so they all looked at me like I was the bad guy.

"I've called the cops," she said. "Let this guy go back to jail for a second time."

Someone waved their phone at me, as if they had something on me.

Right then, my lawyer showed up with two people dressed like cops.

"That was quick!"

The neighbors, thinking that those were the cops they had called, started making a fuss, wanting to stand up for Ruby.

Ruby was taken aback but didn't overthink it and walked over.

"Are you Ruby?"

Before she could get a word out, the officers cut in with a chilly tone.

"We're here about a tax case. We've got new, strong evidence that points to your employee, Wilson Charlton, being a tax cheater. And you, as the boss, broke the law by lying for him. We've got solid evidence. Please come with us to the station to help us with our investigation."