Chapter 3 - The Title Deed
"You can't do that!" Jameson shouted, his voice cracking as veins bulged along his neck. "This house is marital property! We've been married for three years! If we divorce, I get half of this estate! I'll use the equity to pay off your stupid shell company!"
His mother, Eliana, dropped the box of newspaper and rushed to her son's side. "She's bluffing, Jameson! Don't let her intimidate you! My brother is a probate judge; he told us marital homes are split 50-50 regardless of whose salary paid the mortgage!"
I picked up the manila envelope containing the divorce petition, looked at it for two seconds, and dropped it straight into the garbage can beside the sink.
"Your brother must have forgotten to teach you basic property law, Eliana," I said calmly. "This house was purchased six months before I ever met Jameson. It was bought in cash through my family's revocable living trust."
I swiped the iPad screen to display the county deed registry.
"Jameson's name is not on the title. His name is not on the deed. And pursuant to the prenuptial agreement he signed in his rush to access my credit lines, separate pre-marital real estate is strictly excluded from equitable distribution."
Brooke gasped, backing away from the puddle of spilled coffee, clutching the emerald robe around herself as if it could protect her from the falling ceiling. "Jameson... you told me you owned this place! You told me we were moving into your master bedroom!"
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"I... I live here! I paid for the landscaping!" Jameson stammered, looking around wildly.
"You paid for the lawn care with an allowance drawn from my checking account," I corrected him. "Which means right now, all four of you are currently committing criminal trespassing on private property."
