Chapter 14 - Colin’s Hardest Choice
Three weeks later, Colin moved out of the mansion.
He rented a small apartment near downtown.
Taylor remained at the hotel.
They met in a counselor’s office every Tuesday.
Colin did not ask her to forgive him quickly.
He did not blame his mother.
He did not say he had tried his best.
Instead, he told the truth.
“I chose comfort over courage.”
Taylor looked at him across the room.
“Yes.”
“I thought keeping quiet prevented conflict.”
“It only decided who would suffer.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
Colin began cooperating fully with investigators.
He surrendered access to every account.
He testified before the trust court.
He publicly confirmed Sarah’s identity.
He also withdrew himself as primary trustee.
“I don’t deserve control of what my mother stole,” he told the judge.
Sarah was appointed temporary trustee.
Taylor watched from the gallery.
For the first time, Colin was doing the right thing without being pushed.
But doing the right thing did not erase what he had done wrong.
After the hearing, he handed Taylor an envelope.
Inside were signed divorce papers.
Her chest tightened.
“I’m not asking you to use them,” he said. “I’m giving you the choice I should have protected from the beginning.”
Taylor looked at the signature.
“You’re willing to let me go?”
“I’m willing to stop trapping you.”
She folded the papers.
“I don’t know what I want yet.”
“I’ll accept whatever you decide.”
For six months, Colin rebuilt his life without family money.
He worked.
He attended therapy.
He apologized to Sarah privately and publicly.
He never once pressured Taylor to return.
Then the date of Tabitha’s trial arrived.
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And the prosecution asked Taylor to read the rule that had started everything.
👉 Taylor would soon face Tabitha again—but this time, the entire courtroom would be listening.
