Page 31 of No Turning Back
My head feels heavy already. “So… it’s going to be messy.”
He gives me a small, knowing smile. “Most divorces are. But this is why you came to me.”
I sit there for a moment, thinking it through, then say, “I want to sell the house and split it fifty-fifty. I do not want him living in my house with…” I stop short, the rest of the sentence sour on my tongue.
Philip nods. “I can understand that.”
“Oh, and my inheritance. Can he demand a part of that?”
He shakes his head, voice steady. “No. Anything you inherited is yours alone, as long as it’s kept separate from community property. If you’ve kept it in its own account, untouched by joint funds, it’s off the table.”
Relief untangles something tight in my chest. “Good. That’s… good.”
“So… what do I do now?” I ask.
Philip flips the file shut with a quiet thud. “First, we file for divorce. I’ll draft the petition this week. Once it’s filed, he’ll be served, legally notified. From there, we negotiate property division and any financial arrangements.”
I nod slowly, my pulse quickening. “And if he refuses to sell the house?”
“Then we let the court decide,” he says, calm as a man reading the weather. “You’re offering a fair split. Judges tend to favour that over someone squatting out of spite.”
I stare at my hands, twisting my ring without meaning to. “It sounds so… final.”
“That’s the point,” Philip says gently. “You want out. I’ll get you there. But you have to let me handle the fight, or you’ll get pulled back into it.”
The air in the room feels heavier now, but clearer somehow. I breathe in, long and slow. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
Before getting up, I hesitate. “There’s… something else.”
Philip looks up from his notes.
“I’m a foster mom,” I say, the words heavier than I expect. “The rocky stuff between Markus and me… it started because he’s been stalling for two years about starting the adoption process. The thing is, it takes a long time to get approved, and what I’m asking is-” I swallow. “Can I start that process now? Or should I wait?”
His brows draw together slightly, but his voice stays measured. “You can start now, yes. But be aware, if Markus is still legally your husband, his name will come up in the paperwork. We’d have to show that he’s not part of the adoption plan, or that the divorce is pending.”
“So, it could slow things down.”
“It could,” he says, “but waiting won’t make it any faster. The sooner you file for both, the sooner you can get clear.”
I nod slowly. “So… you’re saying I should wait.”
Philip shakes his head. “I’m saying there’s no need to rush into this. You’ve just been dealt a heavy hand. Give yourself a moment to breathe before you take on another process that will test you emotionally and financially.”
I sit back, the truth of it settling in. I hate the idea of waiting, but the thought of piling two battles on top of each other makes my stomach turn.
Chapter Ten
Quinn
“You cannot be serious right now,” Markus says, trailing behind me as I head for the bedroom closet.
I don’t answer. I’m too busy packing the clothes I left behind back when I thought this was temporary. My documents and jewellery are already zipped away. In the bathroom, I sweep my remaining skincare into the bag.
When I come back, I freeze. He’s unpacking my suitcase.
“Stop,” I say, brushing past him to shove everything back inside. “You can’t force me to stay.”
His voice sharpens. “We’re married. You can’t just walk out.”
