Chapter 10 - The Challenge
Rachel did not panic.
That helped.
“Can he stop it?” I asked.
“Threatening something and getting it are two different things.”
“What’s his argument?”
“He claims marital funds substantially improved the property.”
I laughed.
“That’s false.”
“I know.”
“He paid for half a deck repair.”
“Do you have records?”
“Every record.”
“Then send them.”
I spent the next six hours digging through bank statements.
Roof replacement.
Mine.
Kitchen renovation.
Mine.
Property taxes.
Mine.
Insurance.
Mine.
The deck?
Eric had transferred $2,400 three years earlier.
The total project cost had been $18,700.
And our prenup explicitly addressed improvements.
Rachel called at 6:00.
“He has a weak claim.”
“Then why file?”
“To create pressure.”
Of course.
Pressure had always worked for Eric’s family.
Push until the other person becomes tired enough to agree.
Except they had pushed the wrong person.
That evening, Eric appeared at the hotel.
He couldn’t access my floor, so he waited in the lobby.
I walked out of the elevator and stopped.
He stood.
“Please.”
“I have nothing to say.”
“I told the lawyer to withdraw it.”
I studied him.
“When?”
“An hour ago.”
“Why?”
“Because this is insane.”
“You hired him.”
“My mother found him.”
“You still went.”
He looked ashamed.
“I panicked.”
“So your response to losing control was to try taking control legally.”
“That’s not fair.”
“It’s exact.”
He sat heavily.
“I don’t know who I’ve become.”
I stayed standing.
He rubbed his face.
“My mother kept saying I was letting you humiliate me.”
“And?”
“And I listened.”
“Why?”
His answer came quietly.
“Because she’s been saying things like that my whole life.”
For the first time, I saw not just my husband, but Diane’s son.
A man trained to confuse obedience with loyalty.
It explained him.
It did not excuse him.
“I’m withdrawing everything,” he said.
“Good.”
“And I’ll leave before closing.”
“Good.”
“Madison too.”
I nodded.
He looked up.
“Is there any chance?”
There it was.
The question I had known would come.
“Not right now.”
His eyes closed.
“That means maybe.”
“No. It means I’m not making promises to make you feel better.”
He nodded slowly.
“I deserved that.”
I turned to leave.
“Claire.”
I looked back.
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
His expression changed.
“Mom invited everyone to the baby shower anyway.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“She says because the sale isn’t closed yet, the house is still available.”
“When?”
“Saturday.”
Two days away.
“How many people?”
He looked sick.
“Ninety-six.”
I smiled.
Not because I was amused.
Because something had finally become obvious.
May you like
Diane still thought this was a contest.
And she still thought I was playing.
