Chapter 5: The Woman Who Knew Jason
I didn’t sleep that night.
Not because I was angry.
Because I was trying to understand how I ended up here.
How did a stranger know more about the man my daughter planned to marry than I did?
How did my daughter become so desperate to save someone she barely understood?
At 8:00 the next morning, I met Jason’s ex-wife at a small coffee shop across town.
Her name was Rachel.
She looked nervous.
She kept checking the window.
“You’re sure Jason doesn’t know you contacted me?”” I asked.
She shook her head.
“If he knew, he’d come after me.””
I frowned.
“After you?””
She looked down.
“Not physically.””
Her voice became quieter.
“But he knows how to ruin people.””
I listened.
Rachel wrapped both hands around her coffee cup.
“Jason is good at making people feel sorry for him.””
I didn’t respond.
Because I already knew.
That was exactly what happened to Lauren.
“He told me he was unlucky,” Rachel continued.
“He told everyone he was always the victim.””
“And you?””
“I believed him.””
She looked embarrassed.
“Until I realized every disaster somehow ended with someone else paying for it.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Tell me about the arrest.””
Rachel looked toward the door.
“He told Lauren he was arrested because of a misunderstanding.””
“Yes.””
“It wasn’t.””
I waited.
“He was arrested after someone reported financial fraud.””
The word sat heavily between us.
“Fraud?””
Rachel nodded.
“He borrowed money from people. Promised he would repay them. Used emotional stories. Every time someone questioned him, he had a new emergency.””
I thought about Lauren saying:
“He needed help.””
“He would lose his job.””
I closed my eyes.
The pattern was clear.
“He used my daughter.””
Rachel looked at me.
“I think so.””
I hated how calm she sounded.
Because it meant she had already lived through this pain.
“What about the bail money?””
Rachel hesitated.
“I don’t know exactly what happened.””
“Then why did you tell me?””
“Because I saw your daughter’s name.””
My expression changed.
“What?””
Rachel pulled out her phone.
She didn’t show me a screen.
Instead, she turned it off and placed it on the table.
“I know you don’t want anything hidden.””
I appreciated that.
“What did you see?””
“Jason told someone he had a new source of money.””
My hands tightened.
“Who?””
“Your daughter.””
I looked away.
The coffee shop suddenly felt too loud.
Too many voices.
Too many people living normal lives while mine was falling apart.
When I returned home, Lauren was waiting.
She immediately stood.
“Dad?””
I looked at her.
“Did Jason ever borrow money from you before?””
Her face changed.
A small reaction.
But I saw it.
“Yes.””
“How much?””
She looked ashamed.
“Not a lot.””
“That wasn’t my question.””
She sat down.
“About six thousand dollars.””
I stared at her.
“And you never told me?””
“I knew you wouldn’t approve.””
I laughed softly.
There it was again.
The sentence that kept appearing every time the truth came out.
“I knew you wouldn’t approve.””
“Lauren, how many times did you rescue him?””
She didn’t answer.
“Lauren.””
“Three.””
I closed my eyes.
Three times.
Three times she watched him fall.
Three times she picked him up.
And the fourth time, she used my life savings.
“Why?””
She cried.
“Because he always made me feel like I was the only person who could save him.””
I looked at her.
“And did he ever make you feel like he would save you?””
She became silent.
That silence was the answer.
Then the doorbell rang.
Lauren froze.
We both looked toward the entrance.
A moment later, Jason’s voice came through the door.
“Lauren?””
Her face went pale.
“Don’t open it,” I said.
She whispered:
“He knows.””
I stood.
“Knows what?””
She looked at me.
“That I found out.””
The knocking became louder.
“Lauren, we need to talk.””
I didn’t move.
Then Jason said something that made my daughter cover her mouth.
“Because if you don’t help me now…”
May you like
A pause.
“…your father is going to lose everything.””
