The court entered limited financial safeguards after considering the evidence and hearing from both parties; it did not freeze every company account or punish employees for a dispute that had not yet been resolved.

The decision felt unremarkable on paper.

To me it meant our household expenses and Grace’s schooling no longer depended entirely on a promise from Derek that he would sort everything out.

During one meeting, Bennett set a draft parenting schedule between us and asked me to read it carefully.

“I wish I could make this simple,” he said.

“Simple would have been Derek telling the truth before we needed lawyers.”

“Perhaps.