Chapter 231: Confrontation in the Parking Lot and Parting Lines

Finally, after passing through the business sector, Caleb’s car entered the apartment complex where Mike and Jade lived. He pulled into the guest parking lot on the left side of the complex and parked the car. The parking lot was fairly quiet, allowing Eric and Caleb to spot Vanessa’s SUV idling in one of the stalls as they stepped out. Caleb turned to Eric,

"What do you want to do? You coming up with me, or should I go first?" Caleb asked, reading Eric’s expression.

"You go ahead," Eric answered briefly.

"Alright... I’m heading up, poor Jade’s waiting," Caleb replied.

Caleb walked toward the apartment building entrance. Eric watched Caleb’s retreating back for a moment, then shifted his gaze toward Vanessa’s car and changed direction. Walking over to the SUV, he peered through the tinted window, catching a faint glimpse of Vanessa inside. He circled around to the driver’s side.

"Knock."

Eric tapped on the window. Vanessa whipped her head around, jumping in surprise and pressing a hand to her chest before shutting off the engine and pushing the door open.

"E...Eric? What are you doing here?" Vanessa asked, startled.

"I should be asking you the same thing, Mom. What are you doing here?" Eric countered coldly, his face dead serious.

"Um... I have an acquaintance here... waiting for a friend to come down," Vanessa stammered.

Eric glanced down at the screen of Vanessa’s smartphone. She was browsing Ruby’s Instagram, looking at a newly posted photo taken earlier today at Miranda’s house. It showed Eric, Emma, Ruby, and Wesley standing behind Martin and Miranda, who were seated on the living room sofa, evidently snapped using a tripod timer. Everyone was smiling, looking like a genuine family, though there was no caption attached.

"Sigh... stupid little sister... sharing everything on Instagram," Eric thought to himself, letting out a heavy sigh.

Vanessa naturally realized Eric had caught a glimpse of her screen. She didn’t say a word, quickly flipping the smartphone face down. The two fell silent again, wrapping the moment in an awkward, stiff tension. After a long pause, Eric finally spoke up,

"Don’t lie to me, Mom. What are you actually doing here?" Eric demanded.

"Waiting for a friend," Vanessa insisted firmly, though her eyes gave away the lie.

"A friend named David Watts who’s currently hanging out inside Jade’s apartment?" Eric pressed straight to the point.

At Eric’s blunt question hanging in the air, Vanessa flinched. But this time, she didn’t try to keep her composure or cover it up. She simply lowered her gaze, wringing the hem of her blouse without answering. Eric rolled his eyes, utterly exhausted by the fact that his mother was still running defense for the man who had tormented her for years.

"Why are you still helping him? Are you two back together?" Eric asked, fighting to keep his voice steady even though he wanted to scream.

"He promised to pay back the money he owes me... but he asked me to drive him here first... he didn’t mention his destination, and I only found out when we got to Caleb’s place and realized he planned to squat there because your dad’s lakehouse was bought by someone else and he got kicked out," Vanessa explained.

"Sigh... you actually believed he was going to pay you back?" Eric asked, feeling completely drained.

Vanessa stayed silent, offering no response. But the shame and self-recrimination were written all over her face. She bit her lower lip, then forced her head up to meet Eric’s cold, expressionless stare, only to drop her gaze right back down.

"Mom, don’t you realize? All of us ended up broken because of that one man," Eric stated quietly.

"I know... but I recently poured a huge chunk of cash into an investment... so I really needed the money, and he managed to manipulate me again," Vanessa admitted, staring at the floor.

"Ha... an investment? What kind of investment this time? With who?" Eric asked, shocked.

"Uh... a friend of mine... introduced by David... crypto investment," Vanessa answered in a tiny voice.

Hearing Vanessa’s words and looking right at her, Eric’s jaw clenched tight. Every fiber of his being wanted to snap at her, but he forced himself to stay calm, a profound wave of weariness washing over him.

"You wanted to get rich quick? What were you thinking taking a risk like that? And don’t tell me you used the money from the divorce settlement and the allowance from Dad?" Eric demanded.

Vanessa didn’t answer. Instead, she turned her face away, pride seemingly flaring up as anger crept into her features. Naturally, Vanessa’s silence was answer enough for Eric. His jaw tightened further behind closed lips. His internal thoughts raged, "My mom is seriously hopeless. Dad’s still paying her an allowance even though the law didn’t require it... man, I am at my absolute limit."

Seeing Eric stand there in silence, Vanessa stared at him intently. Before Eric could process his burning anger, Vanessa lifted her smartphone right up to his face, displaying the photo she had been looking at earlier. Eric instantly realized the phone she was holding wasn’t her primary device, her actual phone was sitting dead on the dashboard.

"Can you explain why your dad is with Miranda Cruz, and why you’re standing right behind them with Ruby?" Vanessa asked with a heavy, bitter tone.

"Hmm... as for that, it’s none of your business, Mom. And whose phone are you even holding anyway?" Eric countered.

"David’s. On the drive over here when he couldn’t get ahold of Martin, he was ranting about all sorts of things... then he pulled up his notifications and showed me Ruby’s post," Vanessa answered, sounding bitter and frustrated.

"Yeah, and it’s none of your business. So please, let’s not stray off topic. You drove a man straight to his children’s doorsteps to scavenge off them, starting with Caleb and now Jade. Didn’t you think this through? How much longer are you going to keep hurting all of us?" Eric fired back.

Vanessa lowered the phone. She looked at Eric, whose expression wasn’t cold anymore, but blazing with anger toward her. Though he quickly reined it in, his eyes remained sharp and piercing.

"You’ve really changed... you never used to look at me like this," Vanessa murmured.

"Ever since the Jason trial, you’ve known I’ve changed. So... I’m asking you to leave right now and go back home," Eric replied flatly.

Reaching into his pocket, Eric pulled out his wallet, slipped out his smartphone, and opened his banking app. Vanessa’s routing details were still saved in his contacts list from when he helped Martin set up automated monthly alimony transfers outside the court, a goodwill gesture restricted to the first year following their twenty-seven-year marriage ending.

"Ding."

A notification chimed on the smartphone in Vanessa’s hand. Looking down, her eyes went wide as saucers as she stared at the bank alert showing a direct deposit of $120,000.00.

"This... did you just send this money to me?" Vanessa asked, stunned.

"Yeah... consider it settling your debts. Now go home, and stop getting involved with Uncle David under any circumstances," Eric instructed.

Vanessa sat frozen, staring at the bank notification before slowly lifting her gaze back to Eric’s face. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she brought a trembling hand up to cover her mouth.

"You... you’re helping me?" Vanessa asked.

"Don’t call it help. I’m not doing this for you, Mom. I’m doing it for myself and the others, so the man inside that apartment leaves us alone for good and stops using you as a pawn against us. This is the first and the last time," Eric answered coldly.

Vanessa burst into tears, leaning forward instinctively to pull Eric into an embrace. But Eric took a step back, dodging her touch, leaving her stunned.

"Sorry, Mom. Things can’t go back to how they used to be. I still can’t trust you. So it’s best if you leave right now instead of waiting around for him, and stop interfering in my life, Ruby’s life, and Dad’s life. We’re all on completely different paths now, please understand," Eric said firmly.

Eric could see how deeply his words cut her, and honestly, it pained him to say them. But he had to protect the boundaries he had built and permanently detach himself from her.

"Mom understands... and I deserve this. I’m leaving now... just know that Mom will always love you, no matter what," Vanessa sobbed softly.

Eric didn’t answer and simply stared at Vanessa, completely unfazed. Understanding the quiet message, Vanessa offered a faint smile behind her tears, handed David’s smartphone over to Eric, and without saying another word, turned around to climb into her car and shut the door. Without a second’s delay, she started the engine and drove away, leaving Eric standing alone in the parking lot with both hands slid deep into his pants pockets, a faint smile on his face and his eyes slightly red.