Chapter 5 - The Final Liquidation
Her lawyer slid the divorce settlement across the table.
"Because of the impending federal indictment, my client is filing for sole legal and physical custody of Owen," her lawyer stated flatly. "You are granted supervised visitation for two hours, every other Sunday. Furthermore, because you utilized marital assets to conduct your fraudulent activities, you forfeit all claims to the primary residence."
I didn't even read the pages. I just picked up the pen.
Before I signed, I looked up at Corinne.
"Eight months," I whispered, the words scratching at my dry throat. "You looked me in the eye every single day for eight months. You let me kiss you. You let me talk about our future. How did you do it?"
Corinne looked at me. Her expression was perfectly calm. There was no hatred. There was no anger. There was just absolute, chilling indifference.
"You thought my silence was compliance, Grant," she said softly. "But you forgot what I used to do for a living."
She leaned forward, resting her hands gracefully on the polished table.
"I spent my entire career tracking people who thought they were smarter than the system. People who thought they could hide their greed behind paperwork and fake smiles. You weren't a husband to me anymore, Grant. You were just a bad investment. And I was waiting for the market to close so I could liquidate you."
I signed the paper.
I handed away my wife, my son, and the last shred of my dignity.
May you like
I walked out of the courthouse and into the freezing rain, entirely alone. I had wanted the thrill of another woman without losing the comfort of a perfect home. I had expected Corinne to simply cry, forgive, and wait for me to bring her roses.
But Corinne had never been waiting. She had been sharpening the knife. And I had handed her the stone to do it.
