made sure the agreement calls for you getting paid well for your work.”
“I’m not worried about getting paid. I’ve been a divorce lawyer for a long time. I’ve won several cases and lost others. But I’ve never felt more like justice isn’t prevailing than in this case. You deserve better, Knight.”
I shrug. “It doesn’t matter what I deserve.” I’m protecting someone who deserves the world, and all I gave her were a bunch of half-truths.
Lundy opens the door, and we step inside the mediation room. Abri and her team of three lawyers are already sitting on one side of the long table. She’s wearing a suit. She’s all business.
Lundy and I take a seat opposite them.
“I didn’t think you would show,” Abri says.
“I’d rather get divorced than be rich.”
She smiles. “Good.”
Lundy pulls the papers out of his briefcase and lays them on the table. “I know everyone involved has had time to review the settlement, but let’s review all the terms and ensure everyone still understands and agrees. If there are any objections, we can discuss them and decide if we can reach an agreement today.”
I already know we will easily reach an agreement today.
“First item, Abri will—”
“Please call me Mrs. Knight, as that is my name,” Abri says.
Lundy looks to me, and I nod. Abri probably won’t even change her last name after we get divorced. She will keep my name just to piss me off for all of eternity. But I won’t let her know that now. She’s won enough. I won’t give her any more than what is already stated in the document.
“Mrs. Knight will get the apartment and all of its contents,” Lundy says.
Everyone nods.
“Mrs. Knight will retain all of the vehicles acquired during the marriage with the exception of Mr. Knight’s motorcycle, which was acquired after the two separated.”
More nods.
“Mrs. Knight will receive all of the money the couple acquired throughout the almost five-year marriage.”
My eyes burn into Abri. I am giving her my money. She may have earned half of it, but half isn’t enough for her. She’s greedy, and I couldn’t care less about the money.
Lundy sucks in a breath before he states the last line of the agreement. He looks at me one last time to ensure I haven’t changed my mind. I haven’t. I could give her everything but this one thing and Abri would still be pissed. She would still try to hurt Mila. I won’t let that happen.
I nod my head for him to continue.
“Mr. Knight will turn over complete and full ownership of his company Perfect Match. He will give her all of his stock and board membership roles, including any rights to make any decision about the company’s future endeavors.”
Abri’s smile turns into a devilish grin. She thinks I will back out. She thinks I will object to her getting my company. The one thing I cared about almost as much as I did Abri when we were married.
I love Perfect Match. I loved starting something and building it to an incredible place. But I don’t love having it used as a bargaining chip. I don’t love that no matter how much I love the company, it will always be tainted with thoughts of Abri.
“Do all parties agree to the terms written out?” Lundy asks.
Abri’s lawyers lean in to whisper in her ear.
“We agree to the terms if Ace does,” Abri says.
Lundy leans over and whispers. “It’s not too late to change your mind. You don’t have to give her the company.”
“I do.”
“Since you are giving up everything, which isn’t required under the law, I also advise you to add a clause where she can’t take you to court or file criminal complaints from the time during your marriage. It’s clear she wants to make you pay for the separation, and I could see her taking additional steps to ensure you pay. And at that time, you won’t have any money left to fight her with,” Lundy whispers.
I stare into Abri’s bright eyes. “Thank you for your advice, but I’m ready to sign the divorce papers as is.”
Lundy reluctantly hands me a pen as he slides the papers to me. I sign my name, more sure about this decision than I was on the day I married Abri. That day I was so certain. Today, I know what certainty feels like.
I slide the papers to Abri who signs them as fast as I did.
“Congratulations, we will file the papers today, and you will be legally divorced.”
I stand