He agreed to reimburse every verified expense in monthly installments, acknowledged the unauthorized hotel charge, and waived any future claim on my income or my assets.

When we met for the final signing, he held the pen over the line for nearly a full minute before he could bring himself to touch it to the paper.

“I genuinely thought you would stay forever,” he said quietly.

“So did I,” I said, and it was true.

“I got comfortable,” he said, “with you taking care of everything.”

“Yes,” I said.