“Claire,” the attorney said, pointing to the LLC filings, “this is clearly premeditated. He’s set up a corporate entity to receive property without your consent. If he had succeeded on Friday, you could have been locked out legally before you realized what was happening.”

I felt the weight of that, but also the clarity. I wasn’t going to be locked out. Not if I moved first.

We scheduled the Notice of Marital Interest to be filed Thursday morning, ensuring it would be recorded officially by mid-afternoon. That way, even if Ethan tried to finalize the quitclaim on Friday, the property records would already show a legal interest held by me.

Back at home, I returned to routine. Tea for him in the morning. Small conversation. Smiles where necessary. Observing, noting, cataloging.