Ex-Wife Moving Wife Giving Birth? Congratulations, You’re Single Now novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10

A week later, the divorce papers were served to Charles.

He called me, furious.

didn’t answer.

le called again.

still didn’t answer.

le texted: Elena, do you really have to make this into a huge mess?

replied: See you in court.

hen I blocked him.

knew he wouldn’t let this go easily. But I wasn’t afraid.

n the days that followed, I focused on recovering at my parents‘ house. My mom helped with the baby, and my dad went rocery shopping and cooked every day. Slowly, my body healed. The incision closed up, leaving only a scar.

ometimes I’d run my fingers over that scar and think back to those days in the hospital, lying in that bed with no one by my ide. Even now, the memory made me feel cold inside.

A month later, the court accepted my divorce petition. The first hearing was scheduled.

harles showed up. He’d hired a lawyer, the kind who wore expensive suits and carried a leather briefcase.

n court, his lawyer argued that I was “being unreasonable,” that Charles’s help to Vivian was “a sign of his good character,” hat I was “overly sensitive,” and that I was “putting my own feelings above the child’s well–being.”

My lawyer, Benjamin, countered every single point methodically. He presented the bank transfers, the Uber ride history, the Valentine’s Day photo. One piece of evidence after another, laid out in front of the judge.

Charles’s face grew paler with each exhibit. His lawyer fell silent.

The judge looked at Charles. “Mr. Miller, the plaintiff has provided substantial evidence. What do you have to say about this?”

Charles kept his head down, saying nothing.

‘Mr. Miller?”

‘I’ll pay the money back.”

“The plaintiff isn’t asking whether you’ll pay it back.” The judge’s tone was firm. “The plaintiff is asking you to explain why, during your marriage, you transferred marital funds to your ex–wife.”

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Chapter 10

Charles looked up and glanced at me briefly.

‘I… I was just trying to help her.”

‘Help?” The judge flipped through the documents. “Seventy–two thousand dollars. Forty–seven visits to her residence. ncluding one at 2 AM. You call that help?”

Charles had no response.

Mr. Miller, the court is giving you an opportunity.” The judge looked at him directly. “Do you agree to the divorce?”

Charles was silent for a long time.

I… I don’t agree.”

Why not?”

I want to save this marriage.”

The judge turned to me. “Mrs. Miller, the defendant has stated he does not agree to the divorce. What is your position?”

stood up.

Your Honor, I am firm in my decision to divorce.”

On what grounds?”

The grounds are clearly stated in my petition.” I took a deep breath. “During my postpartum recovery, the defendant

eglected me to the point that my surgical incision became infected, requiring hospitalization. During our marriage, the lefendant transferred over seventy thousand dollars of marital funds to his ex–wife without my knowledge or consent. The lefendant has maintained an inappropriate relationship with his ex–wife, for which I have Uber ride records as evidence.”

Regarding the ‘inappropriate relationship,‘ do you have any direct evidence?”

hesitated for a moment.

Not at this time, Your Honor. But I believe that a married man visiting his ex–wife’s home at 2 AM and staying until 7 AM is ot normal ‘helping out.”

he judge nodded.

This court will issue a ruling at a later date.”

‘he first hearing ended.

As we left the courthouse, Charles stood in front of me, blocking my path.

Elena, are you really set on this?”

looked at him but didn’t respond.

Chapter 10

“Is it really just about the money? I can pay it back-”

“It’s not about the money.”

“Then what is it about?”

I met his eyes.

‘Charles, do you still not understand?”

‘You’ve always thought that helping your ex–wife was no big deal. That the money transfers were no big deal. That not being here for me during my recovery was no big deal. You think I’m overreacting, that I’m too sensitive, that I don’t understand

you.”

I-”

‘But have you ever stopped to think about what all those ‘small things‘ add up to?”

He said nothing.

‘Emotional neglect. Disrespect. Dismissal.”

‘I never-”

“You did.” I cut him off. “You just don’t want to admit it.”

[ turned and walked away. Sophia’s car was parked at the curb. I got in.

‘How did it go?”

‘He won’t agree to the divorce.”

‘Not surprising.” Sophia started the engine. “Then we keep fighting.”

“Yeah.”

‘By the way, I found something out.”

“What?”

“Vivian’s been job hunting recently.”

“Oh?”

“She used to work at an advertising agency, She quit last month.”

“And?”

Why Comaatulations Youre single Now

Chapter 10

Her new job-” Sophia glanced at me. “It’s at Charles’s company.”

froze.

What?”

Charles’s company. Same department.”

My head started spinning.

Are you sure?”

Positive.” Sophia handed me her phone. “I had someone look into it. She started two weeks ago.”

wo weeks ago. Right after I’d gotten out of the hospital. When I was at my parents‘ house, taking care of the baby every day. When Charles kept saying he was too busy with work to come see me.

So this was what he’d been busy with.

gripped the phone tightly.

You okay?”

I’m fine.”

took a deep breath.

This is exactly the evidence I needed.”

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