Chapter 16 - The Divorce Took Longer Than the Marriage
We had been married three days when I decided to leave.
The legal divorce took eight months.
Prenup simplified.
Daniel challenged initially.
Claimed:
He signed under financial pressure because wedding imminent.
His own independent lawyer testified:
Negotiations lasted six weeks.
Daniel requested changes.
Received disclosures.
Signed voluntarily twelve days before ceremony.
Challenge failed.
Townhouse excluded.
Trust assets excluded.
Hawthorne Risk Advisory excluded.
CrossWave excluded.
Joint marital property after three days was almost absurd.
Wedding gifts.
A joint checking account with $18,000.
Some furniture purchased together.
We divided.
The real dispute was legal fees and damage to dining room.
I paid for table.
Did not waste months arguing over china.
Daniel’s attorney requested temporary spousal support because he had been suspended without salary.
Judge denied based on resources, short marriage, prenup, and his ownership interests.
No children.
No custody.
No alimony.
Divorce final eight months after wedding.
I stood outside courthouse holding decree.
Rachel asked:
“How do you feel?”
“Like the paperwork lasted eighty times longer than marriage.”
“More than eighty.”
“Thank you, Rachel.”
“Accuracy matters.”
I laughed.
My legal name had never changed.
Claire Hawthorne.
Daniel once complained:
“You didn’t even take my name.”
I answered then:
“My company is named after me.”
He smiled.
May you like
Said he understood.
Maybe that had bothered him too.
