Chapter 5 - The Reality Check
The bell above the door of the small diner jingled cheerfully.
Arthur stepped out of the Seattle rain and into the warmth of the bustling restaurant.
He spotted Marcus sitting in a corner booth, nursing a large black coffee.
Marcus had aged, but his sharp eyes remained exactly as Arthur remembered.
"You look like a man who just dropped a very heavy burden," Marcus said.
Arthur slid into the red vinyl booth across from his oldest friend.
"About two hundred pounds of it, to be exact," Arthur replied with a tired but genuine smile.
He ordered a cup of hot tea and began to explain the events of the past forty-eight hours.
Marcus listened quietly, his expression shifting from mild surprise to quiet anger.
"I told you years ago that boy was taking advantage of you," Marcus grumbled.
Arthur nodded slowly, the lingering sting of his son's betrayal still present in his chest.
"You were right," Arthur admitted softly.
"I need your help to make sure my remaining assets are permanently protected."
Marcus pulled a yellow legal pad and a pen from his worn leather briefcase.
"We will set up an irrevocable trust this afternoon," Marcus stated firmly.
"They will never be able to touch another dime of your money."
Thousands of miles away, the grand mansion felt colder than a sprawling tomb.
Logan stood by the large front window, staring blankly at the circular driveway.
A heavy tow truck was currently backing up toward Claire's luxury SUV.
"Logan, you cannot let them take my car!" Claire shrieked from the top of the staircase.
Her voice was frantic, echoing harshly through the empty, cavernous foyer.
"The lease was entirely in my father's name," Logan said, his voice flat and completely defeated.
"He canceled the automatic payments yesterday morning."
Claire ran down the stairs, her expensive silk robe trailing behind her on the marble.
"Go out there and do something!" she demanded, aggressively grabbing his arm.
Logan finally turned to look at his wife, his eyes hollow and thoroughly exhausted.
"What exactly do you want me to do, Claire?" he asked bitterly.
"I have no money, no leverage, and no father left to bail us out."
Outside, the hydraulic lift whined loudly as it hoisted the pristine vehicle into the air.
Claire covered her face with her hands and began to sob uncontrollably.
Back in Seattle, Arthur took a warm, comforting sip of his tea.
He looked out the diner window at the gray, overcast sky.
He did not feel any joy in knowing that his son was likely suffering.
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However, he finally understood that protecting himself was not a selfish crime.
"Let us get to work, Marcus," Arthur said, feeling truly alive for the first time in years.
