Building a New Foundation
I filed for divorce that afternoon. The prenuptial agreement I had insisted upon three years earlier proved invaluable, protecting both my business assets and the inheritance from any claims Daniel might attempt to make.
Returning home felt like visiting a place I had once lived but had somehow outgrown. The contractor estimates still sat on the coffee table, waiting for decisions that no longer required compromise. I signed a check for ninety-five thousand dollars to complete the kitchen renovation, repair the roof, and upgrade the outdated electrical system.
The first check I wrote from the trust wasn’t for home improvements. Ten million dollars went to a bonus pool for Whitaker Strategic Solutions employees. Fifteen million funded a grant program for women-owned small businesses. Five million went to Massachusetts General Hospital for emergency care improvements.
Daniel attempted contact through texts, emails, and mutual acquaintances, but I ignored every message. Richard handled all legal matters, and I blocked Daniel’s communication channels.
