She felt the air leave her lungs.
Understanding the Strategy
This wasn’t about fairness at all.
It was about replacement.
That night, sitting across from her on the bed, he spoke in a tone so calm it sent chills through her.
“I need a partner, not someone holding me back,” he said.
“Since when am I holding you back?” she asked.
He avoided her eyes.
“I want someone on my level,” he explained.
On my level.
Ten years earlier, when she had earned more than he did, that “level” had never been mentioned.
But she didn’t argue. Not then.
“Okay,” she said simply.
He blinked, surprised. “Okay?”
“Let’s divide everything,” she agreed.
For the first time, hesitation crossed his face.
“Are you certain about this?”
“Absolutely,” she replied. “But we divide everything. The house. The investments. The accounts. The company you started while I signed as guarantor.”
A flicker of something crossed his expression.
