Attorne

perched on minimalist tables-a deliberate softness in an otherwise sharp environment. The floor-to

ring-still on my finger des

g me over tortoiseshell glasses. "And I mean everything, A

pt since walking out of the mansion yesterd

l felt surreal, like recounting someone else's tr

just nodded and made notes in an expensive leather-bound

an infidelity cl

her raised eyebrow, I added, "I memorize

. She traced a manicured finger down the relevant section. "This is

ife in my chest. "S

nt with a sigh. "But Aria, you need to

ght caught on her chunky gold bracelet

-topped one to the left? They own the top ten floors. Three banks,

u're saying they'll

erything at you-their money, influence, and ruthlessness. I've gone up against them twice in my

" My voice cracked. "F

urning to her desk. "I'm telling you to prepa

even missed calls since yesterday. I sil

first move

first. Today. We control the narrative. We select the venue

ced. "Make

"By this afternoon, their attorneys will approach with an initial settlement offer. I

eatened me. Said I'd regret

That's step one in the Walton playboo

room. "Ms. Torres? There's a Mr. Lancaster from Dewey, Holcomb

w at me. "Right on sched

she put the ca

oice shifted to smooth

se camaraderie. "I understand you're representing Aria

hough 'dispute' seems a gentle word for catch

ituations are always complex. I'm calling because Mi

ecca replied, steel b

." Paper shuffled on his end. "Two million dollars, the Manhatt

one-bedroom pied-à-terre Michael kept for late work nights-worth barely a milli

ening offer? For the wife of five years who caught

s of the prenup

a dangerous purr. "Gregory, if that's your serious offer, then you're wasting both our time. My client

cludes Halgate Group hold

hout missing a beat. "Nor the four properties purchased, the investment por

uld almost hear Lan

d. "But Mrs. Walton should understand our offer reflect

ebecca emphasized each word. "There's nothing 'ab

Lancaster said stif

ck in her chair.

ed. "That was t

tapped her pen against the desk. "They know the prenup's infide

e wh

essica, that you tacitly approved or even encouraged it. They'll

d. "That's absurd

etons in your closet they might drag out? Old relationships? F

student loans, the graphic design jobs I'd abandoned to support M

itted. "But there's noth

fight dirty, Aria. They'll dredge up anyone you've ever dated, every job you've left, eve

the face of this cold reality. "So w

he Waltons doesn't look like what you think. It's not about getting everythi

finger. The diamond caught the light, fract

's en

ring. "But first, we need to file those papers

desk with a soft clink. "

oiling for a fight. "The Waltons think their nam

nto the elevator, my phone buzzed

s Jes

There's more to th

tor doors closed, cutting off my cellul

knew? I'd seen eno

ly begun-and I'd just discovered my o