Chapter 4 - What I Kept, What I Let GoOur divorce took nine months. His lawyers demanded half my trust, until the judge reviewed our prenuptial agreement alongside the forensic report. I kept my inheritance, my home, my shares. I asked only for my legal fees and the return of what belonged to Aldergate's employees.
Priya faced consequences of her own, but I refused to punish her child for them. Through counsel, I made sure the baby's medical coverage continued independently of either parent's employment status. The adults had built the betrayal. The child hadn't built anything.
One year later, Aldergate had recovered the diverted money, restored the employee bonuses that had been canceled, and hired a respected physician-executive as CEO. I stayed on as board chair, working out of an office that still held my father's battered brass compass on the shelf.
On the anniversary of that morning at the airport, I flew to Portland again. This time, there were no frantic phone calls. At the gate, sunlight stretched across the floor as a message from Vivian lit up my phone.
"Clear skies. Company secure."
I smiled, switched my phone to airplane mode, and boarded.
May you like
Not because I was running from my old life.
Because I had finally taken back the controls.
