Chapter 10 - The Divorce Hearing
Our divorce hearing lasted three days.
Daniel's attorneys eventually abandoned most claims to Whitmore assets.
The forged prenup destroyed their credibility.
The affair weakened his narrative.
The financial transfers were documented.
The assault was documented.
The house title was indisputable.
Daniel sat across from me looking exhausted.
On the final afternoon, the judge approved the settlement.
Daniel kept legitimate shares in DRC.
His personal belongings.
Certain jointly acquired assets.
I retained Whitmore Capital and Hawthorne Crest.
He waived further claims.
Then the judge addressed the forged documents separately.
Those matters would continue elsewhere.
Outside, Daniel approached me.
Naomi stepped between us.
"It's okay," I said.
Daniel looked at me.
"So that's it?"
"Yes."
"Seven years."
"Yes."
"Do you hate me?"
I considered lying.
"No."
His eyes filled with hope.
"I don't need to hate you to leave you."
Hope vanished.
He nodded.
Then whispered, "I wish I'd known what I had."
I looked at him.
"You did."
He frowned.
May you like
"You had a wife who loved you."
I walked away.
