Ch. He Laughed While I Was Hit 22 He Laughed While I Was Hit 22

< He Laughed While I Was Hit 

Chapter 22 

I picked up the pen from the table and held it out to him. 

“Now sign. Don’t embarrass yourself.” 

He took it. 

His hand was shaking. 

When he went to sign the share transfer agreement, the pen 

hovered over the paper for three full seconds. 

But in the end, he signed. 

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< Chapter 22 

He didn’t hesitate on the divorce agreement. 

He finished the last stroke and threw the pen onto the table. 

David took the agreements and stamped them. 

“The share transfer will be filed today.” 

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“The divorce agreement takes effect as soon as it’s processed by the County Clerk’s Office.” 

Marco stood up. 

He looked at me one last time. 

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< Chapter 22 

His lips moved, but no sound came out. 

Then he turned and left. 

& 

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Francesca rose from her chair, snatched the necklace from the 

floor, and followed him out. 

The door clicked shut. 

Silence settled over the office. 

David poured me a cup of tea. 

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< Chapter 22 

“If your mother could see this, she’d be applauding.” 

I picked up the teacup and took a sip. 

My palm still tingled. 

Ten slaps, and my hand was red. 

I had waited three years for this day. 

& 

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I took the USB drive from my bag, plugged it into David’s 

computer, and played the recording my mother had left for me. 

“*Astrid, don’t cry. Go do what you have to do.*” 

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< Chapter 22 

My mother’s voice filled the room. 

I didn’t cry. 

*Mom, it’s done.* 

I picked up my bag and walked out of the office. 

The sunlight was bright. 

A taxi was waiting at the curb. 

“Where to?” 

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< Chapter 22 

“Brooklyn Heights. Willow Street.” 

Back to my mother’s apartment. 

Halfway there, the cab passed the New York Public Library. 

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Three years ago, that was where Marco had sat down beside me, smiled, and asked what book I was reading. 

The car drove on. 

I didn’t look back. 

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< Chapter 22 

When I got home, I went into the second bedroom. 

The documents were still in the safe. 

I took them out and turned to the last page. 

My mother’s handwriting was still there. 

*Astrid, keep moving forward. Don’t look back.* 

*I’ll be watching over you.* 

I held the papers to my chest. 

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& 

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< Chapter 22 

And stood there for a long time. 

That was when my phone rang. 

David. 

“Astrid, the share transfer has been submitted.” 

“But there are still two debts you haven’t collected.” 

“What two?” 

“Francesca using a shell company to investigate you.” 

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< Chapter 22 

&t 

“And Marco removing your board observer seat without 

authorization.” 

“Are you going after those, too?” 

I looked at the manila envelope inside the safe. 

The investigation report was still in there. 

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Those four words were still at the bottom of the last page. 

*Target is naive and controllable.* 

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< Chapter 22 

I pulled the file out again. 

“Yes.” 

“I’m not letting a single one go.” 

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< He Laughed While I Was Hit