"I don't know."
Roger hated that answer. But he trusted it.
Three days later, Amanda forwarded him a letter. It was four pages, dense, procedural. Roger read every line.
Near the end was the sentence that mattered. The lender had formally expanded its review of the disputed HELOC transactions based on inconsistencies in execution, verification, and authorization records.
Roger printed the letter. He placed it beside the two notarized documents.
For months, Kimberly had accused him of turning their marriage into paperwork. Now paperwork was the only thing in the room that had never changed its story.
On the final page, one line indicated that the lender's next determination could directly affect who would ultimately be responsible for the disputed debt.
Roger learned that patience felt different when it was voluntary. Waiting for concrete to cure was easy.
Waiting for a lender, two attorneys, a forensic accountant, and a divorce process to determine which pieces of his financial life still belonged to him was not.
Six weeks passed after the lender expanded its review. No final determination came. The divorce continued anyway.
Roger's apartment lease rolled into another month. Attorney invoices arrived. Amanda's latest statement was $6,740.
Natalie's work added another $3,280.
Roger paid both. Then he updated his spreadsheet.
He had always believed financial discipline created freedom. Now he understood another benefit.
It created endurance.
Roger could afford to wait. He didn't enjoy spending thousands of dollars proving where his own money had gone, but he did not need to accept a bad agreement simply because the next legal bill frightened him.
That distinction mattered.
On a Wednesday morning, Roger sat in a conference room for his deposition. Eric Lawson sat across from him. Kimberly was not present.
A court reporter positioned her equipment at the end of the table. Amanda sat beside Roger.
The questions began simply. Name. Address. Occupation.
Income.
Then they moved backward through 11 years.
"Who paid the mortgage?"
"Both, through marital income."
"Who managed investments?"
"Roger primarily handled his own."
"Did Kimberly have access to financial information?"
"Yes."
"Did Roger restrict her spending?"
"No."
"Had he ever refused her access to joint funds?"
"No."
Then Eric shifted.
"Mr. Barry, would you describe yourself as emotionally available during your marriage?"
Amanda glanced at Roger.
Roger answered carefully. "I don't know how to measure that."
"Would your wife have described you as emotionally available?"
"You would have to ask her."
Eric leaned back. "Did you work long hours sometimes?"
"Yes."
"Travel?"
"Yes."
"How often?"
"It varied."
"Would it surprise you if Kimberly felt neglected?"
Roger paused. "No."
Amanda looked at him. Eric did too.
Roger continued. "It would not surprise me that she felt something I didn't fully understand."
"Then you accept responsibility for the breakdown of the marriage."
Amanda spoke. "Objection to form."
Roger waited. Amanda nodded for him to answer if he understood.