A separation agreement.
“You keep your car and personal belongings,” he said.
“I keep the house, retirement accounts, and investments.”
He leaned back.
“We walk away clean.”
I looked at him.
“You want me to sign this tonight?”
“It’s generous, Claire.”
Generous.
His proposal would have left me with less than twenty thousand dollars after I had contributed more than one hundred sixty thousand toward our home and shared expenses.
Vanessa poured herself champagne.
“You should probably accept it.”
I looked at her.
“Starting over at your age isn’t easy.”
I was thirty-four.
I smiled.
“I’ll think about it.”
Mark’s expression hardened.
“Don’t drag this out just because you’re angry.”
“I’m not angry.”
And strangely, I meant it.
I had moved past anger.
I was becoming precise.
The next morning, Rachel filed preservation notices covering every marital account.
She demanded full financial disclosure.
