“Hello, Nathan.”
His eyes moved between us.
“What is going on?”
Vanessa leaned back in her chair.
“Surprise. Your past and your present finally met.”
He stared.
“Is this some kind of joke?”
“Not yet,” I answered. “Have a seat.”
He remained standing.
“Vanessa, you said we were meeting to discuss our divorce.”
“We are,” she replied. “I just thought you might benefit from speaking to someone with experience divorcing you.”
Nathan’s face reddened.
He pointed toward me.
“Sarah, she’s manipulating you.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Interesting. She said you’d say exactly that.”
Vanessa lifted one finger.
“Actually,
I predicted he’d call you jealous first.”
Nathan looked furious.
“Have you both lost your minds?”
I shook my head.
“No. We’ve just run out of patience.”
Then I opened the folder I’d brought.
“Joel is eleven now, Nathan. You’ve spent five years avoiding your responsibilities.”
His expression tightened.
“My attorney is reviewing the support you’re required to provide under our divorce agreement.”
Vanessa placed another folder beside mine.
“And I’ve started the legal process to secure support for Lily.”
Nathan stared at both sets of documents.
“Are you two seriously suing me?”
“We’re making sure our children receive the support they’re entitled to,” I answered.
“This is ridiculous!”
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Two children, several broken promises, another engagement, and somehow you still believe you’re the victim.”
Nathan looked away.
Then I asked the question he’d clearly been hoping to avoid.
“Does Claire know about Joel and Lily?”
His
eyes narrowed.
“Leave Claire out of this.”
Vanessa calmly picked up her phone.
“She seemed quite interested when I contacted her.”
Nathan’s face went pale.
“You called Claire?”
“Of course.”
“You had no right!”
I almost laughed.
“That’s an interesting concern coming from someone who’s ignored everyone else’s rights for years.”
His phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen.
Then turned it over.
Vanessa smiled.
“Was that Claire?”
He didn’t answer.
The phone rang again.
I tilted my head.
“Maybe she’s wondering why her fiancé’s relationship history suddenly requires a spreadsheet.”
Vanessa burst into laughter.
Nathan grabbed his jacket.
“I’m leaving.”
I nodded.
“Of course you are. That’s what you do best.”
He stopped.
For a moment, he seemed ready to argue.
“Sarah, you don’t understand—”
I interrupted.
“I understand perfectly. And this time, walking away won’t make your legal responsibilities disappear.”
