Chapter 5 - DEREK’S PERFORMANCE
Derek tried apology first.
Not directly.
The protective order prevented that.
So he sent messages through people.
His mother called Skylar from a blocked number.
“He’s your husband. Men make mistakes.”
Skylar hung up.
A cousin sent a long text about marriage being sacred.
Skylar forwarded it to Elena.
A coworker of Derek’s emailed, saying Derek was “devastated” and “not himself.”
Elena sent one reply:
Please do not contact my client again regarding an active domestic violence and divorce matter.
Then Derek tried public performance.
He posted a photo of himself sitting alone in a coffee shop, looking down at his hands.
Caption:
One misunderstanding can destroy a life. Pray for healing.
Skylar saw it because Mrs. Alvarez sent a screenshot with the message:
Want me to comment or am I behaving today?
Skylar almost smiled.
Elena advised no public response.
But the internet did what it does.
Someone who had been in the courtroom recognized him.
Someone else knew the police call.
Then a local gossip account posted:
Miami insurance salesman under protective order after alleged coffee assault on wife.
No names at first.
Then names.
Then screenshots.
Derek deleted his post.
His employer suspended him pending review.
That was when he stopped apologizing and started threatening.
Not to Skylar.
To Elena.
Through his lawyer.
He accused Skylar of stealing marital property.
He claimed she had taken “shared household items” with malicious intent.
The list included:
Laptop.
External drives.
Blue dinnerware.
Coffee maker.
Jewelry.
Financial documents.
Apartment deed.
Elena laughed when she saw it.
Not loudly.
But enough.
“He is claiming you stole your own deed?”
Skylar looked at the page.
“And my grandmother’s jewelry.”
“And a coffee maker he used as a weapon by association.”
“He didn’t throw the coffee maker.”
“No. But I dislike him, so I’m including it emotionally.”
Skylar laughed then.
It startled her.
The sound felt rusty.
But real.
The divorce proceedings revealed the final layer.
Derek had debts.
Credit cards.
A personal loan.
An unpaid tax issue.
Money borrowed from his mother.
Money borrowed from Suzanne.
Money borrowed from friends he had charmed into believing repayment was always one commission away.
He had wanted Skylar’s bank card because Suzanne needed it.
But he also needed access before Skylar discovered how much he had been hiding.
Elena’s forensic accountant, Priya Shah, found transfers from Derek’s account to gambling platforms and high-interest lenders.
Derek denied gambling.
Then Priya produced merchant codes.
Derek blamed stress.
Then Priya produced dates matching his demands for Skylar’s money.
In mediation, Derek finally looked at Skylar directly.
The burn had faded by then, but a faint mark remained along her cheekbone.
His eyes flicked to it and away.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you that badly,” he said.
Skylar stared at him.
That badly.
Not I should not have hurt you.
Not I was wrong.
Only an objection to the severity.
She slid a copy of the hospital photo across the table.
“You don’t get to grade the damage.”
Derek’s attorney put a hand on his arm.
May you like
Derek leaned back.
For once, he listened.
