Divorced and Done Playing Nice

Our six-month divorce battle finally ended because I gave in.

Everyone was stunned.

Julian and I had been married for seven years, and our divorce had dragged on for six months. To everyone watching, we looked like two people too stubborn to let go.

The media blew up, and Julian released a polished statement:

[We're sorry for taking up public attention. Although Esther Everett and I are officially divorced, we remain friends. I wish her all the best in finding happiness again.]

My eyes landed on one word.

"Friends."

I let out a quiet laugh.

Because of Winnie Dunne, Julian and I had fought more times than I could count.

We hadn't been friends in a long time. We couldn't even fake being civil anymore.

Today was the most reasonable he'd been in six months.

After I agreed to the divorce, he sat on the couch for a long time before putting away the papers he'd brought for our negotiation.

"In that case, I'll have the divorce agreement sent to you as soon as possible.

"You'll keep twenty percent of the company shares as compensation.

"And the downtown apartment is yours too."

He paused, checking if he'd missed anything.

Then he stood.

Even he probably thought the negotiation had ended way too fast.

At the door, he glanced back.

"Take care of yourself."

I closed my eyes and said nothing.

My lawyer sent over the divorce agreement and supporting documents.

Once the files came through, he added:

[The other party listed the reason for divorce as an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage and mutual consent. By law, aside from the assets he voluntarily transfers to you, the remaining marital property will be split equally.]

An irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.

What a respectable way to say cheating.

I'd still underestimated Julian's talent for making himself sound honorable.

My phone buzzed.

Julian had sent a photo and a voice message.

The photo showed my desk, everything swept onto the floor.

But the voice message was from a woman.

"Esther, I heard you're leaving the company, so I'm helping clear out all this trash."

Winnie.

Her voice was soft and sweet.

No wonder people liked her.

I tapped the voice message and replied calmly.

"I may be leaving, but I'm still the company's largest shareholder. I could toss you out with the rest of the trash."

No reply came for a long time.

When another voice message finally came through, it was Julian, with Winnie's muffled sobs in the background.

"Esther, Winnie didn't mean anything by it. Don't do this."

I ignored him, gathered my documents, and left the courthouse.

As I got into my car, Julian sent another photo and a message.

A picture frame had been placed back on my desk.

[The rest can go. They're old anyway. Keep this one.]

Inside the frame was a photo of a polar landscape.