Chapter 12
My Sullivan & Cromwell attorney didn’t mince words. “Nathan’s refusing to sign.”
“And you mentioned the lawsuit?”
“His exact words were ‘do what you need to do.“”
I rubbed my temples.
She set down her Mont Blanc, studying me. “Look, I’ve handled Upper East Side divorces for two decades. This isn’t about Pierce & Associates or the billions. He’s not playing hardball
over money.”
“Then what?”
“He’s stalling. And without a clean settlement, this could drag through the courts for years.‘
past midnight, I stood at Mom’s bay window, looking down at 73rd Street.
His Phantom was there. Again. Like every night this month.
Rolling up at midnight. Disappearing before sunrise.
I grabbed my Loro Piana wrap and headed down.
Through the tinted windows, I could make out Nathan slumped in the driver’s seat, still in
his suit.
When I knocked, his eyes flew open, a mix of desperation and disbelief crossing his face.
He practically fell out of the car, hands shaking slightly as he straightened his jacket.
“Emma-” His voice cracked like I’d never heard before.
Then, softer: “I’m not… I know how this looks. I just can’t sleep in that penthouse anymore.
The Perfect Husband’s Secret
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You’re everywhere up there. I was going crazy. This is the only place I can breathe. Just… please don’t call security. You won’t even know I’m here–”
“Fine. Then I’ll go.” I cut him off.
He stilled. “What are you talking about?”
My silence spoke volumes.
He looked like I’d slapped him.
“No. God, Emma, you can’t ins
His whispers turned frantic in the cold air.
I laughed, but there was no humor in it. “Isn’t this exactly what you wanted? You’re forcing me into a court battle, so I’ll make it simple. I’ll leave New York. Two years of separate residences and I can file for abandonment. Clean and easy.”
The perfectly controlled CEO mask crumbled. “Is that… do you really hate me that much?”
X
I glanced down at my diamond band, wondering why I still wore it.
“Hate? God, Nathan, I don’t even have the energy to hate you. You just… disgust me. So completely that I don’t even care about the billions anymore. I don’t want to waste another minute thinking about you and your little Greenwich family.”
“We’ll never have to see each other again. You can keep your empire. I’ll start over. Maybe I’ll even start dating again. Wouldn’t that be convenient? Perfect proof for the judge that this marriage is dead.”
“Stop living in a fantasy, Nathan. There’s no coming back from this. Not ever.”
I turned and walked away, my Louboutins clicking against the pavement.
The December wind carried no response.
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