Yes. Her voice dropped. You were serious. I told you I was. I thought you were angry.
I am, but I'm also done. She started crying. Patrick, please. I'll have Simon contact you about the paperwork. You can't do this without even giving me a chance.
You had your chance. When? Before you slept with Richard? She said nothing. I ended the call.
That evening, Catherine came to the house. I was in the kitchen when the doorbell rang. I opened the door. She had a suitcase with her. She looked exhausted.
You really changed the locks? Yes. She stared at me. You wouldn't let me in? I knew you were coming.
This is our house for now. Yes. She looked around. Then she noticed the folder on the table. Is that from your lawyer?
Yes. You're actually doing this. I am. She sat down. Richard meant nothing.
I didn't answer. He made a mistake, too. I looked at her. You're still talking about him. I mean that it wasn't serious.
That doesn't matter. It should. No. She wiped her eyes. I love you.
You told me that in Santorini. I meant it. Then you should have acted like it. She looked toward the hallway. Can we at least try counseling?
No. You're not even considering it? No. Her expression hardened. So that's it?
Yes. She stood up. You're going to throw away everything we built because of one night? I looked at her. One night didn't destroy this marriage.
She waited. Your decisions did. She looked away. For a moment, I thought she might leave quietly. Instead, she picked up the folder.
What's this? Don't. She opened it. Financial disclosures? Yes.
You already started separating everything? Yes. Her hands began to shake. This is really happening. It is.
She put the folder down. Then she looked at me. You're going to regret this. Maybe. She seemed surprised by my answer.
But I won't regret protecting myself. She grabbed her suitcase and walked toward the door. Before leaving, she turned around. I never thought you'd actually leave me. I looked at her.
Neither did I. Then she walked out. I closed the door behind her. For the first time since Santorini, the house was completely quiet, and I knew the hardest part was no longer deciding whether to stay. It was making sure Catherine couldn't rewrite what had happened.
The next week was quieter than I expected. Simon handled most of the communication. I focused on work and stayed out of Catherine's way. Then Caleb called me. He was one of my closest friends and his voice sounded uncomfortable.
Patrick, can I ask you something? Sure. Catherine told some people what happened. I already knew where this was going. What did she say?
That you left her alone in Santorini and refused to come back. I leaned against my desk. Did she mention Richard? There was silence. No.
Then you heard half the story. That's what I figured. Caleb hesitated. She said you were furious over a misunderstanding. It wasn't a misunderstanding.
That's what I told her. I appreciated that. Then Caleb asked, "Do you want me to know the truth? " "Yes. " I sent him the evidence Simon had told me I could share privately. A few minutes later, my phone rang. Caleb sounded stunned.
She actually met him. Yes. And she slept with him. She admitted it on your honeymoon. Yes.
He was quiet for several seconds. I'm sorry, man. I'm fine. You don't sound fine. I don't need to sound anything.
He understood. After that call, Catherine started contacting me directly again. The first message was an apology. The second said she wanted to explain. The third accused me of humiliating her by telling Caleb.
I didn't respond. Then she called. I answered because I wanted the communication documented. You told Caleb. He asked me what happened.
You had no right. I didn't tell him everything. You showed him proof. Yes. You're trying to destroy my reputation.
No, I'm correcting a lie. She went quiet. Then her voice softened. I ended things with Richard. That changes nothing.
I wanted you to know. I don't care what happens between you and Richard. He doesn't want anything serious. That isn't my problem. I thought he did.
I said nothing. I made a terrible mistake, Patrick. You did? Can we please stop fighting and talk like husband and wife? We aren't husband and wife anymore.
You can't just decide that. The divorce is already in progress. She breathed heavily. I can make this difficult. I leaned back in my chair.
That's your choice. You don't want to fight me? No. Why? Because Simon is handling it.
She didn't answer. I continued. If you want to fight over property or finances, you'll be dealing with my lawyer. If you want to discuss what happened between us, there's nothing left to discuss. You're so cold.
No, I'm finished. She hung up. 2 days later, Simon called. She's requested a meeting about the house. What does she want?
She wants to keep it. I wasn't surprised. The house was one of our biggest assets. What does the agreement say? We'll determine the value and divide the equity according to the settlement.
Fine. You don't want to fight for it? No. Simon paused. That's unusually straightforward.
I don't want another year of arguments. Understood. I let him handle it. Over the next few weeks, Catherine changed her approach several times. First, she apologized.
Then, she blamed the circumstances. Then she said Richard had manipulated her. Then she said I had abandoned her. None of it changed the facts. Eventually, she stopped calling me directly.
I heard through Caleb that she and Richard weren't speaking anymore. That didn't make me happy. It didn't make me sad either. It simply confirmed something I had already understood. Catherine had destroyed our marriage for a relationship that wasn't even going to continue.
But I wasn't interested in watching her suffer. I was interested in getting my life back. One afternoon, Simon called me again. The settlement is almost finished. Good.
There is one thing. What? She wants to meet you in person. I thought about it. What does she want?
She says she wants one final conversation. I looked out the window. Fine, Simon asked. Are you sure? Yes, I'll arrange it somewhere public.
Good. I ended the call. I knew exactly what Catherine would ask, and I already knew my answer. I met Catherine at a quiet restaurant on a Tuesday afternoon. Simon had arranged the meeting because the remaining details of the settlement needed to be discussed.
But I knew Catherine had another reason for asking to see me. She was already sitting when I arrived. She looked different, not physically. She just didn't carry herself with the same confidence she had before Santorini. I sat across from her.