“If you drag this into court, the scandal will destroy your reputation.”

I tore the check once across the middle.

The rip of the paper sounded sharp in the damp morning air.

“Madison, stop these ridiculous theatrics,” Richard shouted.

I lined up the two halves, folded them together, and tore them across the middle a second time.

I laid the four tidy pieces of the torn settlement check down on the porch table.

Richard got up so fast that his knee struck the rim of the wicker porch table, sending a cold porcelain teacup skidding across the glass.