Chapter 9
I filed for divorce the next morning.
My lawyer’s name was Karen Holt.
She had handled high-conflict divorces and employment-related marital sabotage before.
That phrase made me sad.
Not because I was unique.
Because I was not.
Karen asked for a timeline.
I gave her one.
Year one: Daniel complained when I worked late.
Year two: He “joked” that my boss only promoted me because I was pretty.
Year three: He showed up at my office and accused my manager of flirting.
Six months later: He followed me to a conference and publicly humiliated my coworker.
Now: He forged a company email, tried to pay off my client, and accused me of an affair in a restaurant.
Karen wrote everything down.
Then asked, “Did he ever discourage you from earning more than him?”
I froze.
Memory opened like a drawer.
Daniel saying, “We don’t need your little bonus.”
Daniel saying, “Don’t become one of those career wives.”
Daniel saying, “A husband should be needed.”
I whispered, “Yes.”
May you like
Karen looked at me gently.
“Then this was never just jealousy.”
