No More Permission

There was nothing left to settle over dinner. Not between them.

She placed her phone on the table and returned to the documents spread before her. 

Her grandfather's estate was proving more complicated than she had initially expected. 

There was money, certainly, but not all of it was immediately available. 

Some investments were held separately, and the trust had conditions that needed to be reviewed before any major withdrawal could be made.

She had expected obstacles. What she had not expected was how much time the legal process could consume.

Her phone rang.

Adrian Cole.

"Good morning, Miss Ellery."

"Good morning, Mr. Cole. Have you received any updates?"

"I have. I've reviewed the documents you sent, and I think we should discuss the next steps before you make any financial decisions."

Audra straightened in her chair.

"Is there a problem?"

"Not exactly. Your grandfather made provisions for you, but the trust was structured to protect the assets, not simply place them at your disposal. We need to establish precisely which funds can be released immediately and which require further authorisation."

Audra closed the folder in front of her.

"How long will that take?"

"That depends on the documents and the institutions involved. I don't want to give you an unrealistic timeline."

She looked at the clock.

"Then let's not waste time. Tell me what you need from me."

Adrian listed the documents. Some were already available through the firm, while others required her personal verification. He also explained that certain investments could be liquidated, but she should not assume the money would appear in her account immediately.

Audra listened carefully, making notes.

"So I can begin with the funds that are already accessible?"

"Subject to the trust's terms, yes. But I strongly advise against transferring large sums or selling assets until we have confirmed the restrictions."

"Understood."

There was a brief pause.

"May I ask why you're in such a hurry?" Adrian asked. "You seem determined to put everything in motion at once."

Audra's fingers tightened around her pen.

She couldn't tell him the truth.

Not yet.

"I have personal reasons. I want to put my affairs in order."

"That's reasonable. But whatever you're planning, make sure you don't create unnecessary legal complications."

"I'll be careful."

After the call ended, Audra remained seated.

In her previous life, she had thought having enough food would be enough. She had been wrong. Food could disappear. Water could become contaminated. Electricity could fail. Roads could become impassable. 

Even people who had prepared supplies could lose everything when they were forced to leave their homes.

She needed more than a collection of goods.

She needed a plan that could survive when the world stopped following its usual rules.

Her phone vibrated again.

This time, it was Daniel Mercer.

"Audra, I've received the latest documents from the other side," he said after greeting her. "Bennett's position hasn't changed much. He still seems to believe this is a temporary disagreement."

"Then he hasn't understood me."

"Apparently not. He has also asked whether you're willing to meet and discuss the marriage privately before we proceed further."

"No."

Daniel was quiet for a moment.

"Are you certain?"

"Yes. I don't want a private discussion with him. If there's anything he needs to communicate, he can do it through you."

"All right. I'll make that clear."

"And Daniel?"

"Yes?"

"Please make sure the financial separation is handled properly. I don't want any confusion about what belongs to me."

"I'll review the relevant accounts and documents. But don't move anything that may be jointly owned until we've checked the legal position."

"I understand."

When the call ended, Audra returned to her list.

She couldn't afford to let legal complications consume all her time. Every day mattered, and she needed to begin making arrangements while the lawyers handled the paperwork.

She opened her browser and searched for wholesale suppliers.

The first few results were unhelpful. Some dealt mainly in retail quantities, while others required customers to visit their warehouses before discussing prices. She needed suppliers who could handle large orders and deliver to different locations.

She saved several contacts.

Then she began drafting enquiries.

She wanted quotations for dry food, canned goods, grains, cooking oil, bottled water, hygiene products and basic household necessities. She also needed to know which suppliers could guarantee delivery and which accepted large advance orders.

She didn't intend to purchase everything immediately. She needed prices, quantities, delivery arrangements and reliable contacts first.

One supplier responded before the others.

The representative introduced himself as Mr. Eze and asked what quantity she had in mind.

Audra stared at the message.

She could not simply tell him she was preparing for the end of the world. He would either laugh or assume she was being unreasonable.

"I'm comparing suppliers for a private bulk purchase," she typed. "I need your current wholesale catalogue, minimum order quantities and delivery terms. I would also like to know whether you can accommodate repeat orders."

His reply came a few minutes later.

He could send the catalogue and arrange a call with her the following morning.

Audra saved his number.

It was a small beginning, but it was something she hadn't done in her previous life.

She had waited until the disaster was already upon them before thinking about what they needed. By then, everyone was fighting for the same limited resources.

She would not wait this time.

By late afternoon, Audra had received three catalogues and a preliminary quotation.

The prices were higher than she had expected, especially for some imported goods. She made a note to compare them with local suppliers before committing to anything.

She was still reviewing the figures when her phone rang again.

Bennett.

She considered ignoring the call, but something made her answer.

"What?"

"Is that how you answer your husband now?"

Audra leaned back in her chair.

"Stop calling me your wife Bennett. What do you want?"

He paused and swallowed hard.

"I sent you a message yesterday."

"I saw it."

"And?"

"And I didn't reply."

His silence lasted several seconds.

"Audra, this is becoming ridiculous."

She glanced at the documents on her table.

"Then stop making it ridiculous."

"Can you listen to yourself? You woke up one morning and decided you wanted a divorce. You refuse to explain anything, you avoid everyone in the house, and now you won't even answer a simple message."

"I have already explained what I want."

"You haven't explained why."

"Would knowing why change anything?"

"It would at least allow us to have a proper conversation."

"We've had years of conversations, Bennett. They never changed anything."

He exhaled sharply.

"You're being emotional. Whatever happened between us, we can discuss it like adults."

Audra almost laughed.

Emotional.

That was what he called it whenever she stopped accepting the things he wanted.

"I'm not interested in discussing this with you over the phone."

"Then come home early. We can talk."

"I am home."

"Then come downstairs."

Audra frowned.

"Why?"

"Because I'm here."

She lowered the phone and stared at it for a moment.

Bennett was home.

She hadn't heard him arrive.

"Fine," she said, ending the call.

She closed her laptop and gathered the papers she needed. Before leaving the room, she placed the supplier quotations inside a folder and slipped it into a drawer.

She had no intention of allowing Bennett to examine her plans.

When she entered the sitting room, he was standing near the centre table. Celeste was seated on the sofa, looking at her phone. Bennett's mother sat opposite her.

The scene was familiar.

Too familiar.

Audra had spent years trying to fit into that room, trying to earn the approval of people who had never considered what she needed.

Now, she only wanted to leave it.

"You're finally here," Bennett said.

Audra looked at him.

"You called me downstairs. I'm here."

His mother placed her cup on the table.

"Audra, this behaviour has gone on long enough. Whatever misunderstanding exists between you and Bennett, you shouldn't allow it to affect the entire family."

Audra turned towards her.

"Then perhaps the family should stop involving itself in my marriage."

The older woman looked offended.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

Bennett stepped forward.

"Can we talk without turning everything into an argument?"

"Then say what you called me here to say."

He glanced at his mother and then at Celeste before returning his attention to Audra.

"I want to know what you're planning."

"About what?"

"About this divorce."

"There's nothing complicated about it. I want to end the marriage."

"And what happens after that?"

"I move on."

His expression hardened.

"You make it sound as though walking away is that simple."

"It becomes simple when you've made the decision."

His mother shook her head.

"After everything this family has done for you, is this how you intend to repay us?"

Audra looked at her for a long moment.

Everything this family had done for her.

She remembered the countless times she had been expected to sacrifice her own comfort. The occasions she had been told to understand Bennett's behaviour. The days she had swallowed her complaints because keeping peace in the house seemed more important than her happiness.

And when the apocalypse came, none of those sacrifices had mattered.

"I don't owe anyone my entire life," she said quietly.

Bennett's eyes narrowed.

"Nobody is asking you to give up your life."

"No. You simply expect me to keep living it the way you want."

"That's enough," he snapped. "You're my wife. You can't make decisions as though I don't exist."

Audra's expression remained unchanged.

"That's exactly what I'm learning to do."

Celeste finally looked up from her phone.

For a moment, her eyes met Audra's.

Audra recognised the expression immediately. It was the same carefully neutral look she had seen before, the one that never quite concealed the satisfaction beneath it.

Audra felt no need to challenge her.

Celeste was not the person she had come downstairs to speak to.

Bennett rubbed his forehead.

"Look, I don't want this to become a bigger issue. We can settle things privately. You don't need to involve lawyers in every little matter."

"I already have a lawyer."

His head lifted.

"You what?"

"I said I have a lawyer."

"Since when?"

"Since I decided to take the divorce seriously."

His jaw tightened.

"Who is it?"

"Daniel Mercer."

Bennett stared at her.

"You're actually going through with this?"

"Yes."

His mother looked between them.

"Bennett, perhaps you should give her some time to calm down."

Audra almost found the suggestion amusing.

She was calm.

For the first time in a long time, she was completely certain of what she wanted.

"I've given this marriage enough time," she said. "I won't keep repeating myself."

She turned and walked towards the stairs.

"Audra!"

She stopped but didn't turn around.

"Where are you going?"

"Back to my room."

"We haven't finished talking."

"There's nothing left to discuss."

She continued upstairs.

Behind her, she heard Bennett say something under his breath. She didn't bother trying to make out the words.

That evening, Audra returned to her laptop.

She had made progress, but not enough.

She needed a better understanding of how much food a person would require over an extended period, how to store different supplies and how to avoid wasting money on things that would become useless.

She opened a fresh spreadsheet.

Instead of writing down random quantities, she created columns for the item, estimated quantity, storage requirements, supplier and purchase status.

She would compare prices, check quality and make purchases in stages.

Her grandfather's money would give her an advantage, but she couldn't allow that advantage to make her careless.

A large amount of money could disappear surprisingly quickly when spent without a plan.

She also needed to find people who could help with transportation, storage and other arrangements. She couldn't do everything herself, and she couldn't afford to trust the wrong people.

That thought made her stop.

Trust.

In her previous life, she had mistaken familiarity for loyalty. She had believed that the people closest to her would never betray her.

Now she understood that knowing someone for years did not mean knowing what they were capable of doing when survival was at stake.

She would have to judge people by their actions.

Not their promises.

Her phone lit up.

A message from Daniel.

I've sent the revised divorce documents to your email. Please review them when you have time. I'll contact you tomorrow regarding the next steps.

Audra opened the email and began reading.

A second notification appeared before she finished.

Bennett.

You have changed. You're not behaving like the Audra I know.

She read it once.

Then she placed the phone face down.

He didn't recognise her because he had never truly tried to understand her.

And she had no intention of helping him now.

Audra returned to her spreadsheet and added another heading. Urgent Purchases.

Her inheritance was being reviewed. The divorce process had started. She had contacted suppliers, gathered quotations and begun organising the resources she would need.

It wasn't enough.

Not nearly enough.

But this time, she wasn't waiting for someone else to decide whether she deserved to survive.

She was making the first move.