Chapter 19 — The Decree

Three months later the divorce was final.

The court confirmed the apartment as my separate property, ordered Damian to pay full restitution for the dissipated funds and all of my legal fees.

Between the judgment and the embarrassment among the partners whose meeting his declined card had interrupted, he sold his car and moved into a small rental downtown.

Valentina avoided prison with a plea — full restitution, community service, and a permanent civil restraining order barring her from ever contacting me again.

When the police report and the hallway stills made their quiet way through the circle of people we had both known for a decade, the social world she had built evaporated around her.