The Fortune Teller Said I Was Bad Luck, I Brought Them Worse Chapter 13

The Fortune Teller Said I Was Bad Luck, I Brought Them Worse Chapter 13

I stayed at a friend’s place for a month.

During that time, Gavin came looking for me three times.

The first time, he came to apologize, begging for my forgiveness. I didn’t open the door.

The second time, he came with money to start repaying me. I told my friend to pass him a message: talk to my lawyer.

The third time, he came asking for the keys to the apartment, claiming he had nowhere to live. I said, “It’s my apartment now. I’ve already changed the locks.”

My parents called many times. I answered twice.

The first time, Mom said she missed me and asked when I’d come home. I told her, that’s not my home.

The second time, Dad said they were out of money and asked me to transfer some for living expenses. I sent $300, then blocked his number.

Rachel handled everything smoothly. Gavin signed the agreement, acknowledging he owed me $67,000 over the years and promising to repay it within five years.

The house, registered under his name and partially paid off, ended up with him, but he agreed to compensate me seventy percent of the down payment’s market value.

Adding everything else, he owed me a total of $87,000.

On the day we signed the agreement at the law firm, I saw him for the first time in a month. He looked thinner, unshaven, dark circles under his eyes.

“Isabella…” His mouth opened, words stuck.

“Sign this.” I pushed the agreement toward him.

His hand shook as he took the pen. After signing, he looked up at me, eyes red, “I really know I was wrong. Can you give me another chance?”

“Gavin.” I looked at the brother I had raised, the one I once would have given everything for. “Some mistakes can’t be excused.”

“But I…”

“Work hard. Pay back the money.” I stood. “As for everything else… let it go.”

I walked out of the law firm. Autumn sunlight warmed my skin.

My phone rang. It was Rachel. “Isabella, he cried. Really hard.”

“Mm.”

“You’re really not softening?”

“I’ve softened before,” I said, “but being soft only earned me being taken advantage of. Not respect.”

I hung up, took a deep breath, and looked at the sky. Blue, clear. White clouds drifting.

I was free.