Chapter 12 - The Divorce Was Not Revenge
The divorce took nine months.
Long enough for gossip to become boring.
Dominic’s attorney reviewed prenuptial agreement.
Valid.
Full independent counsel.
No coercion.
No surprise.
The agreement listed my inheritance broadly without value.
Dominic had signed:
I acknowledge Audrey Monroe possesses substantial separate family assets and waive any claim except as expressly provided.
He had laughed at phrase when we married.
“Substantial sounds very mysterious.”
I smiled.
“It means Dad’s lawyers like adjectives.”
He never asked more.
Now adjective mattered.
Aster Vale:
Mine.
Trust:
Mine.
My mother’s jewelry:
Mine.
Dominic’s inherited Vance shares:
His.
His retirement:
His.
Joint bank accounts:
Divided.
Joint art/furniture bought during marriage:
Valued and divided.
No spousal support either way due prenup and both resources/income.
No children custody.
The lost pregnancy sat outside property law.
Then company.
Dominic owned about 13 percent after recapitalization.
Valuable.
He kept.
Aster Vale did not confiscate.
The special committee removed him as CEO but shares remained.
That distinction frustrated Victoria.
“Why does Audrey let him keep shares?”
Because they were his.
I did not “let.”
Law did.
Then mansion.
Aster Vale Property Holdings decided to sell after board no longer needed executive residence.
Independent broker.
Appraised.
Sold to unrelated buyer for market value.
Proceeds stayed property company.
Not mine personally to spend on revenge.
Victoria had thirty days to remove personal belongings under prior agreement.
She tried to take two paintings owned by Vance Foundation.
Inventory stopped.
She called police.
Documents resolved.
No drama.
Then my own housing.
I bought a modest by my standards townhouse near Vanderbilt.
Three bedrooms.
Garden.
No ballroom.
The first night, I slept on mattress because furniture delayed.
It felt safer than mansion ever had.
Then Dominic mediation.
He looked thinner.
“Where are you living?”
“Not your concern.”
He nodded.
Then:
“Do you want house?”
“It sold.”
“I mean another.”
“I have one.”
He almost smiled.
“Of course.”
Then the ring.
He returned some jewelry that had been in mansion safe.
I returned his grandfather’s watch he had left in my drawer.
No hostage objects.
Then he said:
“I was going to leave you.”
“I know.”
“For Paige.”
“I know.”
“I thought you needed me.”
That sentence.
“Why?”
“You never talked about money.”
“I worked.”
“But you dressed simple. You drove same car five years.”
“That car worked.”
He laughed once.
Then cried.
“I thought I had all power.”
“Yes.”
“Did that make you hate me?”
“No.”
“What did?”
I thought.
“I don’t hate you.”
That hurt him more.
Then:
“I stopped trusting you.”
Different.
He whispered:
“Do you forgive?”
“Not yet.”
He nodded.
Then final settlement signed.
Marriage dissolved.
I left courthouse as Audrey Monroe again? User character Audrey maybe surname Vance in seed. We can return to Audrey Monroe. But consistency maybe story title "Mrs Vance". Fine.
I changed surname back to Monroe professionally.
Not to erase.
To reclaim original.
Then Victoria’s criminal trial approached.
She refused plea.
She insisted I attacked first.
Despite Sarah.
Despite Paige.
Despite Dominic.
Despite disabled camera.
She wanted jury to choose mother-in-law over “secret billionaire liar.”
May you like
Her defense strategy would put my money on trial.
I was ready.
