Chapter 4 - WHY HE NEEDED MY SIGNATURE
Nathan didn’t want a divorce someday.
He needed it today.
Before moving in with Victoria.
Before starting his residency.
Before someone discovered something he clearly did not want examined too closely.
I read the divorce papers again.
The settlement looked simple.
No children.
No property.
No joint savings.
Each party retained their individual accounts.
Neither party would seek financial reimbursement from the other.
That sentence made me stop.
I read it twice.
Financial reimbursement.
Nathan knew I had spent years supporting him.
If I signed this agreement quickly, I would be giving up any possible claim related to the money I had transferred.
Maybe that was why he chose graduation.
He expected me to be embarrassed, devastated and desperate to escape.
He expected me to sign without asking questions.
My phone rang.
Nathan.
I watched it buzz until it stopped.
Then it rang again.
This time I answered.
“Emily.”
His voice sounded annoyed, not guilty.
“We need to talk calmly.”
“You handed me divorce papers at your graduation.”
“I didn’t know another way to do it.”
“You could have started with words.”
Silence.
Then he sighed.
“This marriage has been over for a long time.”
Interesting.
Yesterday he kissed my forehead before leaving for graduation rehearsal.
Last week he called me his “rock.”
Three days ago he asked me to transfer $900 because his licensing fees were due.
“I’m not signing anything today,” I said.
His voice immediately changed.
“Emily, don’t do that.”
There it was.
Fear.
Small, but unmistakable.
“Why?”
“Because dragging this out helps nobody.”
“I’ll have a lawyer review it.”
“You don’t need a lawyer.”
Now I smiled.
“That sounds exactly like something that means I need a lawyer.”
Nathan went quiet.
Then he said something unexpected.
“Did Daniel talk to you?”
My pulse jumped.
“Why?”
“Answer me.”
“No.”
It was the first lie I had ever intentionally told my husband.
And apparently, it worked.
Nathan exhaled.
“Good.”
I almost laughed.
“Why would that matter?”
“It doesn’t.”
But we both knew it did.
“I’ll be home in about an hour,” he said. “We’ll talk then.”
“I won’t be here.”
“Emily—”
I hung up.
Then I called Daniel.
When he answered, I asked one question.
“Why is Nathan afraid you talked to me?”
Daniel was silent for several seconds.
Finally, he said, “Because I wasn’t the only person who knew about the scholarship.”
“What does that mean?”
“There was an investigation last semester.”
My stomach tightened.
“What kind of investigation?”
May you like
Daniel lowered his voice.
“One involving Nathan’s financial aid records.”
