With purposeful steps, I entered the building, my heels clicking against the polished floor of the near-empty lobby. The receptionist directed me upstairs, leading me to an office at the end of a long, cool-toned corridor. The air-conditioning was crisp, but it did nothing to quell the fire in my chest.
I took a seat in a sleek leather chair, my hands clasped in my lap, fingers curled into fists. It wasn’t long before the door opened, and a man stepped inside, a file in hand.
"Good afternoon, Mrs Knight," came his deep, measured voice.
I turned towards him—and felt the ground shift beneath me.
Leon Aldrich.
For a moment, the world around me blurred. I knew him. Not just as a lawyer. He was someone from my past. Someone from a time before my life had become entangled with Archie Knight.
His gaze flickered with recognition, but it was brief—quickly replaced with the cool professionalism he had always exuded. He pulled out a chair across from me, placing the file on the desk before him.
"It’s been a long time," he said, his tone quieter now. "I never expected you to walk into my office as a client."
I swallowed, willing my emotions into submission. "I didn’t expect to see you here either."
Leon studied me for a moment, as though searching for something beneath the mask I wore. "So, you want to file for divorce from Archie?"
I straightened my spine. "Yes. I can’t continue in this marriage any longer."
His expression remained unreadable. "Are there specific terms you want to include in the settlement? Asset division? Custody arrangements?"
I exhaled slowly. "I don’t want anything from Archie. I just want to walk away."
Leon frowned. "No claim on the estate? Wendy, you do realise who your husband is. You know he won’t let this end quietly."
I met his gaze, unwavering. "I’m ready for whatever comes."
He studied me for a beat before allowing a small, knowing smile to ghost across his lips. "You haven’t changed. Still as stubborn as ever."
A humourless chuckle escaped me. "And you’re still the same. Always able to see straight through me."
Leon’s gaze lingered a moment longer before he sighed, leaning back slightly. "Very well. I’ll handle everything."
He picked up a pen, flipping through the documents in front of him with the same precision I remembered from years ago. His sharp eyes scanned the legal text—the papers that would officially sever my ties to Archie Knight.