Chapter 11 - DIVORCE
I filed the next morning.
No dramatic serving at office.
No social-media announcement.
Complaint.
Custody.
Financial disclosure.
Preservation order.
Request for temporary restraints against extraordinary asset transfers.
Dominic filed counterclaims.
He wanted joint legal custody and a step-up toward unsupervised parenting.
He wanted equitable access to marital property.
Some of that he was entitled to seek.
Cheating did not erase fatherhood.
Fraud allegations did not automatically erase marital ownership rights.
The townhouse:
Purchased during marriage.
Jointly titled.
Mortgage partly paid from marital earnings.
Not “mine” just because I earned more.
Meridian Atlas:
Founded before marriage.
My ownership interest largely separate, though marital appreciation questions existed because Dominic supported household while I grew company.
Accountants would calculate.
Good.
No magic confiscation.
The joint checking:
Split by temporary order for ordinary expenses.
Neither party allowed unusual withdrawals.
My separate pre-marital investments:
Restricted from Dominic access.
His retirement:
His, subject to marital portion.
Real divorce.
Messy.
Then Dominic asked to move back into townhouse.
Denied while temporary exclusive possession stood.
He rented an apartment.
Brooke did not move in.
At least not publicly.
Then paternity.
Dominic voluntarily acknowledged Liam legally after consultation.
Brooke amended Liam’s birth record? Process varied. Court established paternity and child-support order.
Dominic now had legal responsibilities to both boys.
His hidden son became legally recognized.
That did not reduce Leo’s support.
Then Victoria.
She called me once through an allowed adult channel.
“I want to explain.”
“No.”
“Clara.”
“I don’t need explanation yet.”
“Liam is innocent.”
“I know.”
That surprised her.
“Then why are you trying to destroy Dominic?”
“I’m divorcing him.”
“You’re freezing his life.”
“He has salary, apartment, counsel, joint funds, and every asset legally his. I stopped letting him spend money that belongs to me or my company.”
Silence.
Then:
“You never understood how difficult Leo is.”
I ended call.
May you like
Not because she insulted me.
Because that sentence showed nothing had changed.
