After my husband threw me out of the house after our divorce, I took the old bank card my father had left behind and used it at a branch in the U.S., sending the whole bank lobby into a stir as the staff hurriedly called the manager over, and the words “Look at the name on this account!” revealed a family secret I had never known.

He entered the room. The atmosphere was far from romantic.

Zelica was already seated in the head chair. Seek was standing beside her. On the long mahogany table, there were no coffee cups, but stacks of thick legal documents.

“Zel, babe,” Quacy greeted, trying to break the ice with the flowers.

“Sit down, Quacy,” Zelica said, her voice cutting.

He sat. His smile faltered.

“Let’s get to the point,” she said. “Mr. Seek.”

Seek stepped forward, placing a binder of documents in front of him.

“Mr. Quacy, this is the list of debts of Quacy Constructions, Inc.,” Seek said. “To Garcia Aggregates, a total of $100,000. To Bolt Hardware, $50,000. To Iberian Machinery, $200,000, and so on. The total verified debt with twelve suppliers is $500,000.”

Quacy’s face paled.

“What does this mean? I’m negotiating with them.”

“They no longer need negotiation,” Zelica interrupted. “Because everyone has been paid in full.”