Chapter 2: The Dinner Emma Had Been Waiting For
Daniel suddenly stood.
"This is ridiculous!"
He pointed at Jonathan.
"You can't just walk into my parents' house and destroy a marriage with paperwork."
Jonathan remained perfectly still.
"No."
He answered evenly.
"The paperwork simply records what already happened."
Daniel slammed his hand against the table.
"You've manipulated everything!"
Emma finally showed the first crack in her calm.
Not anger.
Disappointment.
"For twelve years, every time I questioned something, you told me I was imagining it."
"When money disappeared..."
"I imagined it."
"When you came home smelling like someone else's perfume..."
"I imagined it."
"When my inheritance vanished from our joint accounts..."
"I imagined that too."
Daniel opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Emma reached into her purse.
One final envelope.
She placed it beside her wedding ring.
Inside was the document Daniel feared most.
Divorce papers.
Already signed.
Already filed.
Jonathan quietly added,
"Mr. Carter, you've already been served electronically."
Daniel stared in disbelief.
"When?"
"This afternoon."
Emma nodded.
"Before I cooked dinner."
His chair scraped backward.
"You planned this whole night."
"No."
May you like
Emma answered softly.
"I planned my freedom."
