My Husband Asked For A Divorce On His Retirement Day—So I Revealed My 30-Year Secret Chapter 06
“The notarized documents are all right here.”
Griffin’s fingers went rigid. Michael leaned in for a closer look. Lauren’s expression shifted.
I kept turning pages. “And this. Fifteen years ago, when we took out a home equity loan, the bank required you, as my spouse, to sign a waiver of property rights. You thought it was a hassle and signed it without a second glance.”
It was a separate property acknowledgment.
In the signature line, ‘Griffin Ricci’ was scrawled in a sloppy hand, but it was perfectly legible. Below it were his Social Security number and the date.
I looked at him. “It states very plainly that you acknowledge this house is my separate property and that you waive any and all claims to its ownership.”
Griffin’s head jerked up. “When did I sign this?”
“Fifteen years ago,” I said. “The day we got the loan. You were in a hurry to get to a Yankees game and kept rushing me at the bank. The loan officer even told you to read it first. You said it was just house paperwork and not worth the time.”
His face slowly changed color as the memory surfaced. A man might forget what he signed, but he never forgets the dismissive way he signed it.
Amanda could no longer sit still. “Griffin, this house… it’s not marital property?”
Griffin didn’t answer.
I answered for him. “No. Just because he lived there doesn’t make it his.”
Michael’s face was pale. “Mom, even if that’s true legally, Dad lived there for most of his life…”
I looked at him. “And?”
“He lived there, so I should just give him the house?”
Michael fell silent.
Lauren asked in a low voice, “If you don’t sell, Mom, where are you going to live?”
I smiled. As always, her main concern was whether the house would ever fall into their hands.