PART 2
Ryan took the envelope slowly.
He looked at the first page.
Then the second.
His eyes moved faster.
“You filed for divorce?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“This afternoon.”
“You cannot be serious.”
“I am.”
His gaze moved toward the children.
“You planned this.”
“That is correct.”
“You planned to take my children out of this house.”
“I planned a safe place for them to sleep while we begin the legal process.”
He laughed again, but the sound had changed.
“You think some lawyer is going to let you walk away with everything?”
“I am not asking for everything.”
“Then what are you asking for?”
“Read the petition.”
Ryan squeezed the papers.
“You have no income.”
There it was.
The sentence he believed ended every argument.
I nodded.
“That is something the court can consider.”
“You haven’t had a real job in six years.”
“Also documented.”
“You depend on me for everything.”
“Not anymore.”
That answer disturbed him more than the petition.
He looked toward the closet.
“You have money somewhere.”
I did not respond.
“How much?”
I remained silent.
His face hardened.
“Claire, how much money did you take?”
“None.”
“That is impossible.”
“No.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I did not take money from you.”
That wording mattered.
My grandmother had left me a small investment account before Ryan and I married.
It had contained forty-eight thousand dollars when she died.
Ryan knew about it.
He had simply forgotten because he considered it insignificant compared with his income.
I had never touched it.
Over nine years, it had grown.
It was not enough to support three children forever.
It was enough to hire Rebecca.
It was enough to survive.
And it was mine.
Ryan pointed toward the suitcases.
“The children stay.”
“No.”
“I am their father.”
“And I am their mother.”
“You cannot just decide this.”
“That is why courts exist.”
He moved closer.
I stepped backward.
Ethan noticed.
So did Ryan.
I watched him calculate what the movement might look like if Ethan repeated it later.
Then Margaret appeared in the doorway.
“Ryan.”
Her voice was quiet.
He turned.
“What?”
“Let Claire leave.”
His expression showed disbelief.
“You are taking her side?”
“I am telling you not to make this worse.”
“She is stealing my children.”
Margaret looked at the suitcases.
Then at the petition.
Then at her son.
“You brought another woman into your house during dinner.”
Ryan’s face reddened.
“That has nothing to do with the children.”
“It has everything to do with what happens tonight.”
Daniel appeared behind her.
Vanessa remained downstairs.
Apparently, moving into the guest suite had become less appealing.
Ryan looked between his mother and brother.
“So everyone is against me now.”
Daniel sighed.
“No one said that.”
“You don’t have to.”
I took Ethan’s hand.
“We are leaving.”
Ryan blocked the doorway again.
This time Daniel stepped forward.
“Move.”
Ryan stared at him.
“Excuse me?”
Daniel’s voice remained calm.
“The kids are scared.”
“I am not doing anything.”
“Then move.”
For several seconds, neither brother moved.
Then Ryan stepped aside.
I walked past him.
