Chapter 7 - Five Minutes After the Divorce
The divorce hearing lasted seventeen minutes.
Marcus arrived directly from the hospital wearing the same suit from the previous evening. Penelope’s condition was not dangerous, he explained. Stress had caused cramping, but the baby appeared healthy.
The judge reviewed our agreement.
I received the mansion, my family trust, full ownership of Victory Air and primary residential custody of the children.
Marcus retained Hale Meridian, the Aspen property and his personal investments.
“Both parties understand that this agreement is final?” the judge asked.
“Yes,” I answered.
Marcus’s phone lit up beneath the table.
He glanced at it.
“Yes,” he said.
The judge signed the decree.
Twelve years of marriage ended with the movement of a pen.
Outside the courtroom, Laura handed me a certified copy.
“You’re officially divorced.”
I looked at the time.
Eleven twenty-five.
Rebecca waited downstairs with the children and a car.
Five minutes later, we were driving toward Northbridge Airport.
Marcus remained behind to speak with his attorney. He had no idea where we were going until he received a message from Celeste.
Apparently, his family had already gathered at the terminal for the engagement celebration.
They had discovered our luggage being loaded onto the Victory Air aircraft and immediately recognized Sophie and Ethan.
Marcus called me six times.
I did not answer.
When our car reached the runway gate, Rebecca opened the door.
The children stepped out first.
The new aircraft gleamed beneath the midday sun.
My mother’s initials had been discreetly painted near the entrance.
E.M.
I touched them with my fingertips.
“She would be proud of you,” Rebecca said.
Across the runway, Eleanor Hale stared at me.
“What is Julianne doing here?” she demanded.
Marcus’s family stood beside gold balloons, flower arrangements and a table prepared with champagne.
Their celebration decorations now looked absurd.
Penelope stood near the terminal doors holding an ultrasound folder.
A gray-haired doctor stood beside her.
Marcus’s car raced through the security gate and stopped near the hangar.
He jumped out.
“What happened?” he demanded.
Penelope began crying.
The doctor explained that during the hospital examination, Marcus had requested clarification about the gestational timeline. A revised review confirmed the original estimate.
The baby had almost certainly been conceived before Penelope met him.
Marcus’s entire body went still.
“Is there any possibility I’m the father?”
The doctor answered carefully.
“Based on the information provided, it is highly unlikely. A paternity test would provide certainty.”
Marcus looked at Penelope.
She could no longer maintain the lie.
“The pregnancy started before Denver,” she whispered.
The family erupted.
Eleanor demanded to know why Penelope had deceived them. Celeste asked whether Marcus had destroyed his marriage without confirming a single fact. Richard turned away in disgust.
I took my children’s hands.
May you like
That was when Marcus finally noticed we were leaving.
And that was when he began to run.
