My Husband Asked For A Divorce On His Retirement Day—So I Revealed My 30-Year Secret Chapter 05
Griffin froze for a second, then gave a cold laugh. “Donatella, what are you trying to pull now?”
Amanda clung to his arm, her voice soft and pleading. “Donatella, it’s over. Please don’t make this any harder for Griffin.”
Michael frowned. “Mom, can’t you have a little dignity?”
Lauren was getting anxious. “Yeah, Mom, it’s done. We just need to have a proper talk about the house now.”
I ignored them all and looked toward the door.
On cue, Jessica pushed it open and walked in. She wore a sharp black suit, her hair pinned back, with two assistants trailing behind her.
Of course Griffin recognized her. He’d always thought Jessica was just some friend of mine. He’d even said to my face once, “That friend of yours seems sharp enough, but she’ll never amount to much.”
Jessica came to my side and placed a document pouch on the table. “Donatella. Everything’s here.”
I took out the first set of papers and slid them in front of Griffin. “Let’s start with the house.”
Griffin looked irritated.
“What is there to talk about? We lived there for over thirty years. We sell it and split the money, fifty-fifty.”
I opened the file to the first page.
“The title to this house was funded by the sale of the house my parents left me. Before we were married, that property was already in my name. When the neighborhood was redeveloped, I used the compensation payout to buy the house we live in now. From start to finish, the title has only ever had one name on it: mine.”
The smile on Amanda’s face faltered.
Griffin tried to bluster through. “So what? The house was bought after we were married. Of course I have a share.”
Jessica spoke, her voice crisp. “Mr. Ricci. Please turn to page three.”
I pushed the page toward him.
“My father created a will and a trust. The documents are very clear. The original house, and any property or compensation derived from its sale, belongs to me and me alone. It is not marital property.”