Chapter 7 - THE FAMILY MEETING
Bradley demanded a family meeting at noon.
I almost refused.
Then I decided I wanted to hear what they would say when they still believed they could pressure me.
We sat around the rental house dining table.
Barbara opened.
"This has gone too far."
I said nothing.
"Bradley made mistakes. You made mistakes."
"Which of mine involved forged signatures?"
She ignored that.
"A divorce would be humiliating for everyone."
"Interesting priority."
Bradley leaned forward.
"I will resign from North Shore."
"You will be removed from it whether you resign or not."
Derek muttered, "You cannot do that."
I looked at him.
"I can do quite a lot when my company was used without authorization."
Barbara's tone softened.
"Maddie, honey, Bradley loves you."
I almost admired the pivot.
"Then why did he steal from me?"
"He borrowed."
"Why did he forge my signature?"
"He panicked."
"Why did he push me into freezing water while everyone cheered?"
No answer.
Bradley finally said, "Because you disrespect me."
There it was again.
Not regret.
Justification.
"How?"
"You make every decision."
"At my company?"
"Our life."
"I asked you to choose this rental."
"That is not what I mean."
"Then say what you mean."
He stood.
"You have all the money. All the power. Everyone knows it."
I stared at him.
"So you tried to steal both?"
His face twisted.
"I was trying to become your equal."
I shook my head.
"Equality does not require forgery."
Barbara slammed her hand down.
"He is entitled to half anyway!"
The room went silent.
I looked at Bradley.
He looked away.
That sentence had not come from nowhere.
They had discussed the divorce math before I ever mentioned divorce.
I asked quietly, "How long have you been planning for half?"
Nobody answered.
Then my phone buzzed.
Serena: WE FOUND A DRAFT PETITION. BRADLEY MET WITH A DIVORCE LAWYER SIX WEEKS AGO.
May you like
I turned the screen toward him.
"Apparently longer than I have."
