WritingMarvin spent the rest of the afternoon staring at his phone.He kept expecting something to happen.A message from Raphael.A call from Dorothy.A notification showing that money had entered his account.Nothing came.For the first time in years, Marvin had no idea what to do next.He walked around his bedroom restlessly, picking up his phone every few minutes.Nothing.He opened his banking application again.The balance was unchanged.He checked another account.Nothing.He checked again.Still nothing."This can't be happening," he muttered.His entire lifestyle had depended on one simple assumption.Raphael would always provide.Now that assumption had disappeared.Marvin picked up his phone and called Dorothy again.She answered reluctantly."What is it?""Have you spoken to Raphael?""No.""Why?""Because we are divorced.""So?""So I have no reason to call him."Marvin became frustrated."You don't understand.""Understand what?""I need money."Dorothy let out an irrit

Three days passed after the divorce.For Raphael, those three days were some of the most productive days of his life.He moved from one meeting to another, inspecting warehouses, reviewing properties, contacting suppliers, and reorganizing his finances.Every hour mattered.He remembered the apocalypse from his previous life with painful clarity.Food had become more valuable than gold.Clean water had become a luxury.Medicine had become almost impossible to find.Electricity had disappeared.Communication networks had collapsed.People who once lived comfortably had been reduced to fighting over basic necessities.Raphael had watched powerful families fall apart because they had failed to prepare.He would not make that mistake again.At the warehouse, workers had already begun installing reinforced doors and additional security systems.Raphael stood with his assistant, reviewing a list."How much food can we store here?""Several years' worth if we use the entire facility.""Good.

By the following afternoon, the situation inside the Brooks household had become unbearable.Marvin had barely slept.Every time his phone vibrated, he expected another warning from the people demanding their money.He had spent years living without thinking about consequences.Money came.Money went.If he wanted a new phone, he bought it.If he wanted expensive clothes, he bought them.If he wanted to take several women out for the night, he paid for everything without checking the cost.If his friends needed money, he gave it to them.If his gang needed money for something, he contributed.He had never asked where the money came from.He simply knew that his sister's husband had plenty of it.Now, for the first time, he was being forced to understand what life looked like without Raphael's money.His phone rang.Marvin immediately answered."Hello?""Where's my money?"Marvin swallowed."I told you I'm working on it.""You've been saying that for days.""I'll pay.""You have until

The next few days brought one unpleasant surprise after another for the Brooks family.Marvin's second car was collected.Then one of his credit cards stopped working.Then another.When he called the bank, he was informed that the account had been placed under review because the source of the funds and recent transactions required authorization from the account holder.The account holder.Raphael.Marvin sat behind his desk, staring at his phone in disbelief."How can he do this?"Nobody answered.He called Dorothy."Did you know about this?""Know about what?""My cards.""What about them?""They're blocked."Dorothy's face tightened."What?""Every card Raphael gave me."She became silent.Marvin continued angrily."He has cut me off completely."Dorothy tried to remain calm."Maybe it's temporary.""Temporary?""Yes.""He has taken two cars already."Dorothy had no answer."And I can't access the money he used to give me."Marvin stood up."I have people waiting for money. I owe t

Dorothy continued to reminisce as she sat beside Lilian in the car.The closer they got to the courthouse, the more her mind returned to the previous night.If Raphael had not ruined everything with that ridiculous argument, things might have turned out very differently.She might already have slept with Jake Ashford.The thought came back so clearly that Dorothy almost sighed.She remembered Jake's face, his gentle manner, his attentiveness, and the way he had always known how to make her feel special.Raphael had ruined the entire evening.If he had simply kept quiet and trusted her, she would have been free to enjoy herself.Then another thought crossed her mind.Would sleeping with Jake have made her feel guilty toward Raphael?Of course not.Dorothy did not even hesitate over the answer.Why should she feel guilty?If she had wanted to cheat on Raphael and sleep with her former lover, there had to be a reason.And in Dorothy's mind, there was a perfectly good reason.Raphael had