Too Late, Ex-Husband: You Can't Afford Me

ve, just

Genevieve's Georgetown home. The room had been cleared of its usual centerpiece. No flo

an academic conference in Boston. He had timed it perfect

ewhere over her left shoulder, as if the panoramic view of W

She simply watched him, her ha

od-red nail against the table's surface. Tap. Tap. Tap. The sou

ering under the chandelier light. It looked cold. Heavy. "She's been living off your potential for thirteen years

time for both of us to move on." He still wouldn't look at her. His fingers drummed nervously on the polished w

"You mean considering that I worked double shifts to keep you fed while you studied? Consi

her shoe. "Let me be very clear with you, Genevieve. Jaycob is going places. Big places. He's going to be a partner at Cromwell & Sterling someday, and he needs a wife who can move in those circles. Someone wi

ldn't even meet her eyes. Instead, he straightened his tie with trembling

nullify thirteen years of her life in exchange for a sum that wouldn't cover a down payment on a decent apartment in this city. And buried in the fine print, clause after clause of legal po

d hard to breathe. Jaycob shifted in his expensive, custom-tailored

as low, devoid of the hysteria

Yale Law School graduatio

ile quiet of the room like a st

d with color. A deep, ugly red crept up from his neck. His hand,

ve laugh. She tossed her head

ice dropping to a venomous whisper. "You should be thanking him, you know. For thirteen years, he let you bask in his potent

thing you can't even comprehend. So do yourself a favor. Take the deal. Walk away quietly. Because if you try to fight this, I promise you-my fa

e touched Genevieve'

tion hang in the

y past. With my savings. Wit

and this time, he couldn't lo

ho covered the funeral expenses

ooked like he wanted the floor to swallow him whole, but he didn't spea

hts straight editing your personal essays? Who paid the applicatio

o falter. This wasn't the tearfu

ment near the firm, who gave you the keys to the house her parent

il his forehead was nearly touching the glossy surface of the table that represented everything he had betrayed her

spoke volumes about who held the leash in their relationship. Her diamond necklace swung wildly, catching the light like a cheap disco ball. "You just want mo

other woman. Her green eyes were placid, almost unn

softly. "No. I'm not

ble, making her seem to command the space around her. She walked slow

ed, a primal, guilty movement.

rs went to the simple, unadorned gold band on her ring finger.

, her voice still quiet but carrying a

d. She picked up th

front of them. And with a slow, deliberate motion,

was violent in the silent r

he first time since she had walked into that

sbelief. He stared at the two halves of the document

from her fingers onto the table.

osing its softness, becoming as sharp and cold

ly at Carlee, her

own wife in the eye while he discards her. Take the man who needs a woman

ashen gray. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Carlee's jaw t

ack what he owes me

chless. The sheer, unexpected force

re was no trace of a retreat in her stride. At the threshold, she

erful in this city. I know that. But

t with money or influence.

t small, chill

forgot. He doesn't

wreckage of their expectations be