I left the hospital carrying my daughter’s ashes when my husband finally called from wherever he was with his mistress and coldly said, “The bill has been taken care of. Stop bothering me.” I didn’t argue with him. I didn’t allow him to hear my voice break.

We eventually reached a formal legal agreement.

Brendan would stop delaying the divorce proceedings, while Fairchild Global would submit to three full years of independent financial oversight before receiving any consideration for revised financing from Vance Capital.

An hour later, Brendan entered my attorney’s office.

He looked completely exhausted, with deep dark circles under his eyes.

The final divorce papers were waiting on the conference table between us.

He picked up the pen but did not sign his name immediately.