Turns out, those were just things I believed.
Turns out, reality's first lesson hit harder than I ever imagined.
Then I heard Odette's voice.
"Louisa."
"Whether you sign those papers or not, whether you give up that title, whether I ever get that marriage certificate."
"None of it matters."
Odette couldn't wait to show off. She sent me photos of the mansion Justin bought her, the luxury cars, an entire room overflowing with designer goods and jewelry, every item tagged with its price, just to rub it in.
"You dried-up old hag."
"You deserve to be the clueless little nobody you are."
"Let me open your eyes for you. See all this?"
"The things you wouldn't even dare dream of?"
"All I have to do is crook my finger."
"And it's mine."
Right after Odette's messages, Justin sent me a voice note. He said:
"Louisa."
"Just agree to the divorce."
"If you ever run into trouble down the road, I can still help you out."
"But you had to push things this far."
Something like old affection flickered through his tone, a rare moment of patience with me.
"Why make this harder than it has to be?"
"After all these years, you know what I've turned you into. Don't pretend you don't."