THE DIVORCE AGREEMENT

By the next morning, Valeria had made one decision she refused to question, she was leaving Adrián.

She woke before sunrise, but she did not feel rested. She had spent most of the night going through copies of the financial records, comparing dates and amounts until the numbers blurred together.

The more she found, the less she recognized the man she had married. At seven in the morning, Adrián finally came home, Valeria heard the front door open from upstairs, she remained where she was.

Usually, she would have gone downstairs to ask about his night. Usually, she would have pretended not to notice the unfamiliar perfume that sometimes clung to his shirts or the latenight calls he took in another room.

Not today.

A few minutes later, the bedroom door opened and Adrián stepped inside, still wearing the dark suit from the previous evening. He looked tired, but not worried.

His eyes went immediately to the suitcase beside the wardrobe then to Valeria. “You're leaving?” His voice carried a mild surprise.

Valeria closed the folder in her hands. “I'm going to my mother's.”

“For how long?” Adrian asked

“I don't know.” She replied

Adrián loosened his tie. “Valeria, whatever happened yesterday, we can discuss it later. I have an important meeting.”

She watched him carefully, there was no guilt on his face or fear, nothing suggested that he knew she had discovered what he had been doing and that almost made her more suspicious.

She picked up her handbag. “I've already made an appointment with my lawyer.”

His hand stopped halfway through removing his watch. For the first time, something changed in his expression. “Why?”

Valeria looked directly at him. “For a divorce.”

The silence that followed was longer than she expected, Adrián slowly lowered his hand. “You're serious.”

“Yes.” Valeria replied 

He gave a short laugh, as though she had made an unreasonable joke, “Because of what? A few financial documents?”

Valeria felt her stomach tighten, he knew, maybe not everything but he knew enough. She walked past him without answering and Adrián caught her wrist.

The movement was quick and Valeria looked down at his hand. “Let go.”

He did not. “You're making a mistake.”

She pulled her wrist free. “No. I made the mistake three years ago.”

For once, Adrián had nothing to say and Valeria left the room without looking back.

Marina's office was on the seventh floor of a quiet commercial building downtown. Valeria arrived before nine and the divorce papers were already waiting.

Marina had spent the early morning reviewing the financial documents and preparing a preliminary list of Laurent assets that had been transferred or pledged without Valeria's direct authorization.

The list was longer than either of them expected. Valeria sat across from her desk as Marina turned the pages.

“There are properties missing from the company records,” Marina said. “And these loan agreements are connected to companies controlled by people in Adrián's network.”

Valeria stared at the papers. “So he has been preparing for this.”

“Possibly, we shouldn't assume this started because you filed for divorce.” Marina placed another document on the desk. “This transaction happened four months ago.”

Valeria looked at the date, she remembered that month clearly. Adrián had taken her on a private trip and spent the entire weekend telling her how much he wanted to rebuild their marriage.

She had believed him now the memory made her feel sick.

Marina pushed the divorce petition toward her. “Read everything before you sign.”

Valeria did then she signed and the moment the pen left the paper, she felt strangely calm, not happy or relieved, just finished.

Three years of marriage reduced to several pages of legal language and she placed the pen down. “What happens now?”

“Adrián will be served. After that, his lawyers will probably try to negotiate.” Marina explained 

Valeria almost smiled. “He'll try to stop me.”

“Probably, We'll apply for protection orders where necessary but I want you to prepare yourself. If Adrián realizes how much you know, he may move faster.” Marina warned

Valeria nodded.

She was about to speak when Marina's assistant entered. “Mr. Cortés's legal team is here.”

Valeria looked at Marina and Marina's expression hardened. “Send them in.”

Two lawyers entered carrying briefcases, neither looked surprised to see Valeria.

That was the first thing she noticed, they had come prepared. One of them placed a thick folder on the desk. “Mr. Cortés is prepared to settle the matter privately.”

Valeria did not touch the folder. “What does he want?”

“To avoid unnecessary damage to both parties.” The lawyers replied.

Marina opened the file, the proposed settlement was aggressive. 

Adrián wanted control of several disputed properties, a substantial portion of Laurent shares and a financial settlement that would leave Valeria with far less than she believed she was entitled to.

Valeria read the pages slowly then she noticed something, a clause near the end.

Her eyes narrowed. “What is this?”

The lawyer looked at the document. “Which section?”

“This transfer of financial obligations.” She asked

He hesitated.

Valeria read it again. Under certain circumstances, Adrián could transfer specific debts and obligations connected to the marriage to another party.

“Who is the other party?” Valerie asked

The lawyer's expression changed and before he could answer, the door opened.

A man entered the room, the atmosphere changed immediately. Valeria had never met him before, she knew his face, however, everyone did.

Alejandro Valdés, billionaire and CEO. One of the most powerful businessmen in the country.

He walked into the room without hurry, dressed in a black suit that made him look almost severe. His expression revealed nothing as his eyes found Valeria and stayed there.

For one strange second, she had the uncomfortable feeling that he already knew her.

Alejandro placed a folder on the desk. “I'll take over the obligations.”

Marina stood. “Excuse me?”

Alejandro did not look at her. “I'll take over Adrián Cortés's financial obligations under the agreement.”

Valeria stared at him. “Why?”

His eyes returned to hers. “Because I have an offer for you.”

He opened the folder, there was a marriage contract inside.

Valeria looked at the first page then at him. “You've got to be joking.”

“I don't joke about contracts.” Alejandro replied

The room went silent.

Alejandro pushed the document toward her. “Six months.”

Valeria didn't touch it. “Six months of what?”

“Marriage.” He replied

Her disbelief turned into anger, “You came into my divorce meeting to offer me another marriage, what exactly do you want in return?”

Alejandro's expression remained unreadable. “Six months of your name beside mine.”

That answer made even less sense, Valeria looked down at the contract again. There were financial protections, separate property clauses, confidentiality terms,fixed sixmonth duration and one final provision.

At the end of the marriage, Alejandro would ensure that Adrián's financial obligations were fully settled, leaving him exposed to the consequences of the fraudulent transfers.

Valeria looked up. “You want to destroy him.”

Alejandro said nothing.

She studied him, there was something behind his silence.

Something personal and before she could ask, her phone vibrated, a message had arrived from an unknown number. You should not trust the man sitting across from you.

Valeria's eyes lifted slowly, Alejandro was still watching her. For the first time since he entered the room, his expression changed and she saw it.

He knew something and suddenly, the divorce she thought was the end of her marriage looked like the beginning of something far more dangerous.