Oh, how convenient, a retreat masked as resolution. So that was his way of showcasing his masculine charm to other women.
It was laughable, really.
It was the same man who once claimed to admire my sharp, decisive nature, praising my independence as if it were his greatest treasure.
But then, he was tired of it. Bored, even.
And instead of owning up to his own failings, he cloaked them in noble excuses and shifted the blame squarely onto me. As if I were the problem all along.
I got out of the car tactfully and watched the black Maybach drive out of my sight.
I gave him a chance, but he did not know how to cherish it.
I picked up my phone and called my best friend.
“Claire, help me draft a divorce agreement,” I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil brewing inside me.
I did not truly want to take that step. After all, the Collins and Rodrigo families had a bond that spanned generations, their elders being old friends.
Harvey and I had been childhood sweethearts once, our lives intertwined from the start.
But things changed when he went abroad to study. For nearly a decade, we drifted apart, losing all contact.
The next time we met was at a banquet where the two families were preparing for a marriage.
He was polite and handled questions raised by his elders with ease.
Over the years, in addition to dealing with the affairs of the group, I had often hung out in nightclubs looking for male models to relieve stress.
I had assumed that after so many years apart, our reunion would be marked by awkwardness and unfamiliarity.
To my surprise, when we were alone, I discovered that beneath Harvey’s calm demeanor lay a witty, humorous soul.
It was as though the years melted away, instantly rekindling the warmth and connection of our youth.
We admired each other deeply, both of us flourishing in the early stages of our careers.
It was not long before admiration blossomed into something more, leading to our engagement and, eventually, our marriage.
After tying the knot, our bond extended beyond the personal, each of us held shares in the other’s company, forging an unprecedented alliance between the Collins Group and the Rodrigo Group.
But then, as I contemplated divorce, the reality of untangling such deeply intertwined assets loomed over me. The division of property would be anything but simple.