Ex-Wife Moving Wife Giving Birth? Congratulations, You’re Single Now novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Three days later, I met with the lawyer.

His name was Benjamin, a referral from Sophia. He specialized in family law and had an excellent reputation in the field.

After reviewing all the materials I’d prepared, he looked up at me, his expression serious.

‘Mrs. Miller, you have very strong evidence here.”

‘Good.”

‘But I need to confirm a few things with you.” He leaned forward slightly. “Are you certain you want to proceed with a

livorce?”

‘I am.”

‘Have you thought about how this will affect your child?”

‘I have.”

‘How old is the baby now?”

Just turned one month old.”

He nodded thoughtfully. “In California, custody during the nursing period typically favors the mother. Do you have the inancial means to support the child on your own?”

Yes.”

What’s your income source?”

I have a full–time job. I make 12,000 a month after taxes. I also have 150,000 in personal savings.”

What about the house?”

‘We bought it after we got married. His family paid the down payment, and we’ve been splitting the mortgage payments.”

‘How much was the down payment? And the monthly mortgage?”

The down payment was 300,000. The monthly mortgage is 8,000. We’ve been paying it for two and a half years.”

‘So you’ve paid approximately 240,000 together so far.”

“That’s right.”

“Under California community property law, the portion of the mortgage paid during the marriage, plus any corresponding

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Chapter 8

appreciation in value, should be divided equally.” Benjamin made notes as he spoke. “What’s the current market value of the

house?”

“Around 2.8 million.”

“That means you could potentially claim…” He did some quick calculations. “Between the appreciation and the shared mortgage payments, you’re looking at around 600,000.”

‘Okay.”

‘Now, regarding the transfers he made to his ex–wife during your marriage-” He tapped his pen on the table. “We can argue hat this constitutes a dissipation of marital assets and seek compensation.”

‘How much can we recover?”

‘The 70,000–plus in transfers will be difficult to recover in full, but we can use it as evidence of fault on his part and leverage it o negotiate a larger share of the marital property.”

‘I understand.”

‘What about child support?”

‘Based on his income.”

‘What’s his monthly salary?”

’20,000 after taxes.”

Then child support would likely be somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 per month, depending on the custody arrangement.”

nodded.

One more thing.” Benjamin looked at me carefully. “Your husband may not agree to the divorce. Are you prepared for that?”

‘I am.”

‘Litigation could take a year, possibly longer.”

‘I can wait.”

He studied me for a moment, then smiled slightly.

‘Mrs. Miller, you’re one of the most composed clients I’ve ever worked with.”

‘I don’t really have a choice,” I returned the smile, though it didn’t reach my eyes. “If I fall apart, I won’t survive this.”

After leaving the law office, I called Sophia.

“How did it go?”

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Ex–Wife Movine > Wife Giving Birth? Congratulations You’re Sinete Now

Chapter 8

“The lawyer says we have a strong case.”

“That’s amazing! So when are you filing?”

‘Not yet.”

‘What? Why not?”

‘I need more evidence.”

‘What kind of evidence?”

‘Proof that Charles and Vivian are having an affair.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line.

‘Girl, are you sure about this?”

‘I’m sure.”

‘That might be really hard to prove…”

‘I know.” I took a deep breath. “But if I can prove infidelity, I’ll have a much stronger case for custody, and it’ll help with the property division too.”

‘Do you need my help?”

‘Not right now.” I glanced at my phone. “I need to get back and check on the baby.”

‘Okay. Just let me know if you need anything.”

‘I will.”

hung up and stood on the sidewalk for a moment, watching the crowds of people passing by.

The sun was bright. The wind was strong.

[suddenly remembered the day Charles proposed to me, three years ago. It had been a day just like this one. He’d gotten lown on one knee and promised to take care of me for the rest of my life.

And I’d believed him.

Looking back now, it felt almost absurd,

I shook my head and flagged down a taxi.

“Where to?” the driver asked.

“Oakwood Apartments, please.”

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Chapter 8

‘You got it.”

The car pulled away from the curb. I leaned back in the seat and closed my eyes.

ust a moment of rest. I’d need all my strength for what was coming next.

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