Chapter 19 - I Walked Into the Divorce Meeting Wearing My Own Bracelet|
The final settlement negotiations began on a rainy Friday morning.
I arrived at Meredith's office wearing a navy dress, simple black heels, and the gold bracelet Tiffany had returned.
I hadn't worn it since the day Ross gave it to me.
For weeks, I'd kept it in a drawer.
Every time I looked at it, I remembered his betrayal.
But that morning, I decided something.
The bracelet was mine.
Its meaning didn't have to belong to Ross anymore.
He arrived with his attorney.
Constance wasn't invited.
Neither was Delia.
Tiffany had provided records through her own counsel, and her role in the financial investigation remained under review.
Ross sat across from me.
His eyes immediately dropped to my wrist.
“The bracelet.”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
He looked away.
“I didn't think you'd ever wear it again.”
I met his gaze.
“You gave it to me. What you did afterward doesn't change who it belongs to.”
He said nothing.
The meeting lasted most of the morning.
We discussed the division of marital assets, Ross's business interests, the disputed financial transactions, and a proposed path toward resolving the divorce.
The Gold Coast condo remained titled solely in my name.
The legal treatment of the condo and other property would be addressed according to the applicable agreements and law.
My family's trusts were being reviewed separately, with particular attention to their governing documents and the rights of their beneficiaries.
Poppy's trust would continue to be administered by its independent trustee.
No one was going to transfer its assets simply because Constance demanded control.
Several aspects of the financial settlement remained unresolved.
But one thing was clear.
Ross's original demand that I leave with nothing was no longer remotely realistic.
At one point, his attorney asked whether I would consider resolving some disputed company claims in exchange for a more favorable personal settlement.
I looked toward Meredith.
She answered carefully.
“Those claims involve distinct legal rights and, in some cases, parties other than Lydia individually. They cannot all be disposed of by a private divorce agreement.”
Ross rubbed his face.
“Can we please finish this?”
I looked at him.
“I've wanted to finish this for months.”
He closed his eyes.
“Lydia, I'm sorry.”
For the first time, I didn't feel angry when he said it.
I simply felt tired.
“I believe you're sorry about what happened to your life.”
His eyes filled.
“I am.”
“But I don't know whether you understand what happened to mine.”
He stared at me.
Then whispered:
“I destroyed our family.”
I took a breath.
“You made choices that destroyed our marriage. Poppy is still our daughter. You still have a chance to make better choices for her.”
He began crying.
I didn't move toward him.
Twelve years earlier, I would have crossed the room.
I would have held him.
I would have promised to fix everything.
This time, I remained seated.
Because there are moments when compassion must stop short of rescuing someone from the consequences of their decisions.
The meeting ended without a final settlement.
But both sides agreed to continue through counsel.
As Ross prepared to leave, he paused beside the door.
“Lydia?”
I looked up.
“Yes?”
“Were you ever happy with me?”
The question hurt more than I expected.
I considered lying.
Instead, I told him the truth.
“Very.”
He closed his eyes.
Then I added:
“That's what made all of this so painful.”
After he left, Meredith sat beside me.
“How are you feeling?”
I looked down at the bracelet.
“Like I'm finally coming back to myself.”
She smiled gently.
Then her phone vibrated.
She checked the message.
Her smile disappeared.
“Lydia.”
I looked up.
“What?”
“We've received another set of documents from the old founder files.”
My stomach tightened.
“About Ross?”
“About the arrangement that existed before you married him.”
I stared at her.
May you like
Then she continued.
“And there's a reason Constance wanted control of Poppy's trust.”
