Chapter 9

"There's plenty to say," David insisted, his voice cracking with urgency. "Emma, I know I screwed up. I know that.

"Please, forgive me. Let's try again. I swear, this time will be different. I'll treat you the way you deserve."

People were stopping now. Staring. Whispering behind their hands, eyes flicking between us like we were tomorrow's gossip.

I didn't want a scene.

I nodded to the security guard. "It's fine. Let him through. He's my ex-husband."

The guard stepped aside, and David lunged forward, reaching for my hand. I moved before he could touch me, stepping cleanly out of range.

His hand hung there, grasping nothing but air.

"Emma..." His voice broke on my name. "I know I should've stood up for you. My mom is old, okay? She doesn't know any better. We're family. Doesn't that count for something?"

"Family?" The word came out in a laugh, sharp and disbelieving. "David, was it family when you signed those divorce papers?

"When your mother kicked me out with nothing but the clothes on my back? Did that feel like family to you?"

His face cycled through colors, flushed, then pale, then flushed again. "It was all a misunderstanding. Listen, the money.

"Emma, that million and a half you won while we were still married? That's marital property. Legally, half of it is mine."

There it was. The mask slipped, and underneath was exactly what I'd expected.

All that groveling. All those pretty words about forgiveness and second chances. And underneath? Just dollar signs.

I laughed again, and this time there was nothing soft about it. "David, did you really not do your homework? First, we signed the divorce papers before the lottery numbers even dropped.

"Second, the money I used to buy that ticket was mine, from before we got married. My mother gave it to me, her own little nest egg. Not a single cent of it belongs to you or your family."

I pulled out my phone, scrolling to the legal summary my lawyer had sent. "Want me to call my attorney? She'd be happy to walk you through the relevant statutes."

David's face went gray. He clearly hadn't expected me to be prepared. To have thought ahead. To have a lawyer on retainer and a plan in place.

He stared at me, eyes swimming with something between despair and frustration. "Emma, are you really going to be like this? Five years together. Do those mean nothing to you?"

"Save the sentiment." My voice came out flat, final. "Your feelings don't matter to me. None of this matters.

"I'm telling you once, and I won't say it again: don't contact me. Don't come near me. If you do, I'll have my lawyer send a harassment notice so fast it'll make your head spin."

I didn't wait for a response. I turned and walked to my car, a brand-new Porsche, sleek and red, parked at the curb.

I slid inside, fired up the engine, and let it purr to life. The sports car growled softly, then merged into traffic as if it belonged there.

In the rearview mirror, I caught a glimpse of David, still standing there, small and pathetic against the glass tower behind him. A man abandoned by the world, or so he probably thought.

I looked away. Turned up the stereo. Let something upbeat and ridiculous fill the car.

My life was getting started.

Driving through the city, windows up, music loud, I felt something I hadn't felt in years. Free. Light.

The last thread tying me to that family had snapped the moment David opened his mouth about marital assets.

He wasn't worth another second of my energy.

Back at the office, Sophia met me at the door, arms overflowing with files.

"Ms. Grant! Finally. I was getting worried. What happened downstairs? The front desk said someone was making a scene, asking for you by name."

I hung my coat and smoothed my blouse. "Nothing. Just an annoying mosquito. Handled."

Sophia studied my face for a moment, then relaxed. "Good. Okay. So, first client files.

"Tech startup, fresh off the ground, huge potential. Their books are a disaster zone.

"They need us to untangle the mess and build something sustainable. I've done the preliminary assessment. Take a look."

I took the files and sat down, already lost in the numbers.

This was the life I'd wanted. The life I'd earned. Using my skills, getting respect, building something real.

Not like the last three years, chasing after a man and his miserable family, only to be thrown out like garbage when I was no longer useful.