Chapter 10

“What the hell? Why can’t you represent me? Do you think I can’t afford to pay you because I assure you that you’re well within my budget.”

I feel blind-sighted at this wrench being thrown into the system. Why are they denying me after just one conversation?

“It’s not that,” the older gentleman stresses, shaking his hands back and forth toward me in the chair. “We feel for you and your struggles, but legally, we can’t take your case.”

“I’m still not following,” I reply, growing more frustrated.

“Your husband came in, and we had a consultation with him. Even if, in the end, he decides not to use us, there's nothing we can do.”

I cross my arms, still confused.

“So, what, you won’t take my case because Ryan spoke a few words with you and your firm? I’m the one trying to pay you for helping me.”

The lawyer coughs into his hand, but I think it’s partially to hide some anxiety in his voice. “According to the marriage and firm regulations, now that we’ve spoken to both of you, it’s merely a conflict of interest.”

“It’s a conflict if you represent both of us, not that bastard asking and me wanting to hire.”

“Ma’am, please, I’m sorry for being the one to have to tell you. But by law, my hands are completely tied.”

I let my mouth fall open, agape at the way this man is trying to shoo me out of his office.

“This is bullshit,” I groan, jumping up from my seat. “Thanks for nothing.”

Normally I’m not so forward or rude, but this pathetic reasoning behind not being able to represent me in court? It sounds as if the rule was created to antagonize me.

I’m going to have to talk to Ryan.

I roll my eyes as I exit the building and head toward where I used to live. I absolutely do not want to do this, but what other choice do I have here?

To my horror, when I get to the house, my keys no longer fix the locks! He changed the locks in the short time I’ve been gone? What a fucking asshole!

Furious, I begin to pound on the door, calling out for Ryan to “open the damn door!”

Thankfully, I’m only left on the stoop for a minute before someone finally answers. The wood moves inward, and standing in the space is…Melinda?

“Oh great, not only did you sleep with my husband, but now you’re living in my house? You have no shame!”

Melinda rolls her eyes. “You’re being dramatic.”

“I’m still married!” I screech, wanting to slap this bitch clear across the face. “And you had no right to change the fucking locks!”

“No, I’m pretty sure no one’s going to chastise us for that.”

“I’m calling the police immediately, accusing the both of you of damaging my property!”

Ryan must hear all the screaming because his figure appears before me, a scowl across his face.

“What the hell are you doing here? Haven’t you gotten it through your thick skull that you and I are done?”

I laugh a hardy and spiteful bark, debating which of these pathetic cheaters I’ll be attacking first.

“Oh, really?” He says, mocking my voice and anger. “Oh, poor little Esme! She seems to have forgotten that this property is also mine.”

“It’s not like you were the one paying the majority of the fucking bills.”

“You voluntarily separated and left me! Or do you not remember packing your shit and moving out?” He snaps. “Legally, I can dispose of any assets as I see fit.”

Is that true? Can he really be standing here in front of me telling the truth and making me look—and feel—worse?

“Come see for yourself, Esme,” he sneers, opening the door wider to join them in the house.

Disgusted, I brush past the two of them into the house I’d put years into. Immediately I see a change; my old study I’d spent hours working in has already been turned into a hot-pink nursery.

“Wow, couldn’t even wait for the body to get cold before you destroyed my space,” I spit, wishing I had more guts to go in there and begin destroying the room.

Ryan rolls his eyes, putting his hand on Melinda’s stomach with pride.

“Her test was positive. We’re expecting another mouth to feed soon.”

Then, he glares at me with sick satisfaction. “Keep working hard for a raise to earn even more for the three of us.”

“You’re not going to get away with any of this.”

He pats her stomach lovingly again. “You’ll try, but you’re not going to win.”

“I’ll show you. I’m going to win this case and take everything from you. You’re going to regret ever fucking with me.”

Ryan shrugs before insinuating, “As long as you can find a lawyer in the city.”

I stomp out of the house, hellbent on revenge.

Oh, if Ryan thought things were bad, then he’s just activated Def Con 1.

He’s dead now.

“This bastard!” Lily groans, throwing a Post-it notepad onto the coffee table of my new place.

“He’s visited almost every reputable lawyer in the entire fucking city!” Annie complains, flopping herself onto the floor and letting her blonde hair cascade around her.

“This has become such an impossible task. I can’t even believe this is happening,” I moan, wanting to give up altogether.

“He must have known about this. I mean, how many people know that these lawyers won’t represent someone just because the spouse came in? It’s ass-backward and doesn’t make sense unless they actually are represented?”

Lily is rambling on, taking a long sip of her red wine as she continues to stare at her laptop. “I know Ryan’s an asshole, but damn he’s fucking ruthless! How are we supposed to compete with him so you win your case?”

I shrug. “I don’t know what to do,” I say, feeling utterly defeated. “This is getting bad.”

“He exploited a legal loophole, that bastard!” Annie finally shouts out furiously. She stands up and points at Lily. “Lily? Let’s Google the perfect crime right now! Kill that chicken shit!”

“I do know a lawyer,” Lily murmurs. “But he’s someone who handles criminal cases, not divorce.”

Without missing a beat, I sarcastically reply, “Yeah, we’ll contact him when Annie goes to prison for murder. In the meantime, not sure that’s someone we can get help from.”

I am stressed and absolutely livid at Ryan for this inconceivable deception. I didn’t think he knew a damn thing about divorce.

When had he become an expert in the proceedings? And worse, how long had he been preparing to leave me and get a divorce?

The girls continue to bicker about what to do, but I don’t say a thing. I just keep asking myself questions again and again.

I know that without a good lawyer, I’m never going to be guaranteed rights to my property. He’s the one who cheated, got a woman pregnant, and made it seem as though I was the flaw in this marriage.

What the hell am I supposed to do?

“Maybe you should talk to your boss,” Lily is saying. “Maybe he knows a thing or two about divorce lawyers.”

I sit up straighter, realizing Lily has a point. But it’s not Derek I can contact.

Suddenly, a smile starts to cross my face as someone crosses my mind.

Maybe there is a way out of this.