Chapter 6 - The Legal CounteroffensiveBy Friday afternoon, the reality of my ultimatum had set in with the brutal, inescapable force of an avalanche.
My attorney, Arthur Sterling, called my private office at Oakridge Manor right after lunch to brief me on the formal correspondence he had just received from Derek’s newly retained divorce lawyer.
"Well, Mrs. Donnelly," Mr. Sterling’s dry, professional voice came through the secure speakerphone. "It appears your husband has experienced a rather sudden and severe reality check. His attorney contacted us ten minutes ago attempting to negotiate an amicable, out-of-court separation settlement."
I sat back in my high-backed leather executive chair, spinning a gold-plated fountain pen between my fingers. "Let me guess, Arthur. He’s asking for fifty percent of the marital assets, spousal support, and joint custody of Toby, while conveniently ignoring the financial drain and domestic abuse documentation I sent him yesterday?"
Mr. Sterling let out a short, appreciative chuckle. "You read his brief better than he did. They tried to frame his mother and sister's extended stay as a 'traditional family arrangement' and claimed your purchase of Oakridge Manor was a clandestine evasion of marital property laws."
"And how did you respond?" I asked smoothly.
"I simply attached a certified copy of the equity trust deeds showing the estate was acquired entirely through your independent corporate performance bonus prior to any marital separation filings," Mr. Sterling replied with a hint of satisfaction. "And then, just for good measure, I included a digitized copy of the hallway security footage showing Mrs. Donnelly performing manual labor while your husband consumed alcohol on the sofa."
I smiled, watching the clouds drift lazily past the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking our manicured back garden. "And what did his lawyer say to that?"
"Total, unadulterated silence," Mr. Sterling answered. "They realize they have zero legal ground to stand on. If Derek pushes this to trial, your evidence of financial dissipation, domestic neglect, and verbal harassment will destroy any remaining credibility he has in the corporate sector. His firm wouldn't survive the public fallout."
"Good," I said firmly. "Tell them our terms are non-negotiable: sole custody of Toby, full ownership of 1428 Maplewood Drive as partial reimbursement for drained joint funds, zero spousal support, and an immediate, irrevocable divorce decree signed by Monday morning."
"Consider it drafted," Mr. Sterling said. "It’s been a pleasure representing someone who thinks five steps ahead of the opposition, Claire."
After hanging up, I stood up and walked down the grand corridor toward the indoor playroom. Through the glass double doors, I could see my mother sitting comfortably on a plush sofa, reading a colorful storybook to Toby, who was giggling uncontrollably as he built an elaborate tower out of wooden blocks.
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For the first time in six years, there was no underlying tension in the air. No looming anxiety about whether someone was going to complain about dinner, no passive-aggressive remarks from Judith, and no dismissive eye-rolls from Derek.
The air in this house was clean, light, and entirely our own.
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