This was a choice. 6 months of choices. I'll end it with Chris. I'll do whatever you want. It's too late for that.
Way too late. Maya came back downstairs with her overnight bag. I called Grandma. She's coming to pick me up. Maya, please don't go.
Lydia begged. We can work through this as a family. We're not a family anymore. Maya said coldly. You made sure of that.
20 minutes later, Judith Hartwell arrived to collect her granddaughter. She didn't even acknowledge Lydia's presence. After they left, the house felt empty and cold. Lydia and I stood in our living room like strangers. "So what now?" she asked.
"Now you pack a bag and find somewhere else to stay. I'll file for divorce tomorrow." "This is my house, too." "Not anymore. See, I did some research today. In a fault-based divorce due to adultery, the innocent spouse gets to keep the marital home, especially when there's video evidence of the adultery taking place in said home." Her face went white. You can't kick me out.
I'm not kicking you out. I'm asking you to leave voluntarily. If you refuse, I'll have you removed. You bastard. I'm the bastard.
Really? After everything you've done, I'm the bad guy here. She went upstairs to pack. While she was gone, I called my lawyer, Jim Patterson, and left a message explaining the situation. When Lydia came back down with her suitcase, I was waiting by the front door.
Where will you go? I asked. Chris's apartment, I guess. Good. You two deserve each other.
She paused at the door. Dave, I really am sorry. No, you're not. You're sorry you got caught. There's a difference.
After she left, I poured myself a large whiskey and sat in my workshop, surrounded by the furniture I built with my own hands. Everything in my life that mattered, my marriage, my family, my future, had been destroyed by my wife's selfishness. But I wasn't done yet. Not by a long shot. The next morning, I woke up with a hangover and a plan.
I called Jim Patterson first thing. Dave, I got your message. Jesus Christ, what a mess. Jim, I want to destroy them both legally. What are my options?
Well, you've got grounds for a fault-based divorce, which means you'll likely get the house majority custody of Maya and favorable asset division. As for the boyfriend, if he's been in your house without permission, that could be trespassing. What about at work? They're co-workers. If their relationship violates company policy, that's their problem.
Do you know if their company has a fraternization policy? I'll find out. My next call was to Lydia's boss, regional director Patricia Walsh. I'd met Patricia several times at company functions. She was a nononsense woman who ran a tight ship.