But I never imagined… None of us want to see these things in people we love, Diana said gently. My phone buzzed with a text message from Philip Anderson, my attorney. The emergency filing had been approved.
The accounts I had identified were frozen, pending the divorce proceedings. Gregory now had limited access to funds, enough for living expenses, but not enough to follow through on the property purchases he had planned with Cassandra. I showed the message to Diana and Amelia.
Good, Amelia said firmly. He deserves it. My daughter’s loyalty warmed me, but I wasn’t naive.
He’s still your father, I reminded her. Your relationship with him is separate from what’s happening between us. Amelia shook her head.
Maybe someday, but right now I can’t even look at him. He hugged me this morning and told me how proud he was, all while planning to blow up our family hours later. The doorbell rang, interrupting our conversation.
Diana went to answer it, returning moments later with a troubled expression. It’s Gregory, she said. And he’s not alone.
I steeled myself as Diana led Gregory and Cassandra into the living room. Cassandra looked uncomfortable, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, her eyes darting around the room. She was 37.
Not exactly a trophy wife, but still 17 years my junior, with shoulder-length blonde hair and the kind of confidence that comes from never having faced real hardship. Gregory, by contrast, looked furious. His earlier desperation had hardened into anger.
Bianca, you need to stop this insanity, he demanded. Unfreeze the accounts. We can discuss this like reasonable adults.
Amelia stood up, placing herself slightly in front of me. Maybe you should have tried being reasonable before announcing to everyone that you were leaving Mom. Gregory’s eyes widened, as if just noticing our daughter.
Amelia, this doesn’t involve you. Doesn’t involve me? she echoed incredulously. You blew up our family on my graduation day and it doesn’t involve me? Cassandra touched Gregory’s arm.
Greg, maybe we should go. He shook her off. No, I’m not leaving until Bianca agrees to be rational about this.
Diana folded her arms. My sister-in-law seems to be the only rational person in this scenario. You’re the one who created this mess, Gregory.
I remained seated, watching the drama unfold. For years, I had been the peacemaker, the one who smoothed over conflicts and kept everyone happy. That role was exhausting, and I had finally set it down.
The accounts will remain frozen until the preliminary hearing, I said calmly. That’s in three days. The judge will determine appropriate asset division at that time.
Three days? Gregory sputtered. What am I supposed to do for three days? You have your personal account, I reminded him. The one you’ve been funneling money into for the past year.
That should be sufficient. Cassandra’s head whipped toward Gregory. You have a separate account? With how much in it? An interesting dynamic was emerging.
Clearly, Gregory hadn’t been entirely forthcoming with Cassandra either. Gregory ignored her question. This is vindictive, Bianca.
This isn’t like you. Perhaps you never really knew me, I replied. Just as I apparently never really knew you.
Amelia turned to Cassandra. Did you know he was going to announce it like that, at my graduation celebration? Cassandra had the decency to look ashamed. I thought… I thought he was going to talk to your mother privately.
The announcement today was… Unexpected. Gregory shot her a betrayed look. Cracks were already forming in their united front.
I think you both should leave, Diana said firmly. You’ve upset Amelia enough for one day. Amelia? Gregory pleaded.
You understand that relationships change, don’t you? Sometimes people grow apart. My daughter’s face hardened in a way I had never seen before. What I understand is that you’re a coward, who couldn’t even give Mom the dignity of a private conversation.
What I understand is that you were stealing from our family while I was working two jobs to help pay for my textbooks, because you said money was tight. Gregory paled. That’s not how it was.
It’s exactly how it was, Amelia cut him off. Please leave, Dad. I can’t look at you right now.
The silence that followed was deafening. Finally, Gregory turned to go, Cassandra trailing behind him. At the door, he paused and looked back at me.
This isn’t over, Bianca. I’ll fight you on this. I met his gaze steadily.
You’re welcome to try. After they left, Amelia collapsed next to me on the sofa, tears streaming down her face. I’ve never talked to Dad like that.
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. Sometimes standing up for what’s right is painful. Diana brought us fresh glasses of wine.
To new beginnings, she said, raising her glass. Indeed, I thought. This ending was just the beginning of something new.
The preliminary hearing took place in a small courtroom on a retained, a young associate from a firm that specialized in corporate law, not family matters. Gregory’s poor choice of representation was yet another consequence of his rushed planning. The judge, an older woman with sharp eyes and no patience for dramatics, reviewed the prenuptial agreement carefully.