“Your husband may believe your legal and financial position is weaker than it actually is.”

“He usually does.”

“Then let him keep believing that until you decide your next step.”

Chapter 5 — The Morning Of

Wednesday evening, I stood in my kitchen making pie crusts. The contradiction wasn’t lost on me. I suspected my husband was using our business to support another woman, and I was still preparing Thanksgiving dinner for his family.

Why? Because discovering the truth doesn’t instantly erase twelve years of routine. Part of me still wanted an explanation. Part of me hoped there was another version of the story that would make the records mean something different.

And another part of me had already begun preparing to leave.