Chapter 10 - THE DIVORCE THAT SAVED MY FUTURE
The divorce took nearly a year.
There were financial disclosures.
Appraisals.
Disputes.
Legal fees.
And long nights when I wondered whether the process would ever end.
Daniel's employment situation worsened.
Whitmore terminated him after its internal review.
Regulators examined certain transactions.
He retained counsel.
I cooperated when required.
I told the truth.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
***
The financial investigation revealed that Daniel had used company-related accounts in ways that violated his employer's policies.
The separate entity he'd created had complicated our marital finances.
Margaret worked to ensure that the divorce settlement properly addressed the assets and liabilities disclosed in the proceedings.
I learned more about financial records than I'd ever wanted to know.
But I also learned something important.
Understanding your finances isn't unromantic.
It's necessary.
***
Eventually, we reached a settlement.
The house would be sold.
Retirement assets would be divided according to the agreement.
Certain disputed financial matters would be handled separately.
I would not remain tied to Daniel's business entity.
When Margaret explained the final terms, I sat quietly.
Then asked:
“Is it over?”
She smiled.
“The divorce will be final once the court enters the decree.”
I nodded.
For months, I'd imagined that moment.
Now it felt almost ordinary.
***
The day the decree arrived, I was at work.
I opened the email during lunch.
Read the first page.
Then the last.
My marriage was legally over.
I sat at my desk.
For a moment, I felt grief.
Not because I wanted Daniel back.
Because eight years deserved mourning.
Even when the ending was necessary.
Then I closed the email.
Finished my lunch.
And returned to work.
***
That evening, Rachel came over with pizza.
We sat on the floor of my new apartment.
She raised a soda can.
“To freedom.”
I laughed.
“To paperwork.”
She smiled.
“To you.”
I looked around.
The apartment was small.
Bright.
Quiet.
Mine.
May you like
I raised my can.
“To me.”
