Chapter 16 - Our marriage becomes a contract dispute
Vivian filed for divorce.
I expected to feel relieved.
I felt tired.
Prenuptial agreement simplified some property issues.
My premarital house:
Mine.
My founder shares:
Separate.
Vivian’s 6.5% Cole Meridian shares:
Hers.
Marital investments accumulated jointly:
Divisible.
Retirement accounts:
Adjusted according to agreement and marital contributions.
No children together.
No custody fight.
Isla was not Vivian’s child.
Then Vivian challenged one provision of the prenup relating to executive options earned during marriage.
Her argument:
Certain options had marital value even if company documents listed her individually.
Possible.
My family lawyer Andrea Sloan handled.
No need turn corporate case into revenge divorce.
Then personal property.
Jewelry.
Cars.
Vacation condo bought during marriage.
Joint brokerage.
Ordinary wealthy divorce.
Unpleasant.
Not dramatic.
Then one issue:
Vivian wanted continued access to the marital residence for belongings.
I agreed to scheduled retrieval.
No armed guards standing over her.
A neutral inventory professional.
Then Isla’s room.
Vivian had bought much of the furniture.
Did that make it hers?
No.
Gifts to a child remain child’s property.
She did not dispute.
That small decency surprised me.
Then Vivian requested one thing:
A framed photograph of herself and Isla from a beach trip.
It belonged to Vivian originally.
Isla said:
“She can have it.”
No tears.
May you like
No performance.
People can love someone and still need them gone.
