People who believe gossip without hearing both sides aren’t worth your energy. Sophia told me over emergency cupcakes in her bakery kitchen after a particularly difficult day, focus on building your new life, not mourning the old one. James’s attempts to intimidate me escalated as he realized I wasn’t going to quietly accept his terms.
There were late night phone calls, thinly veiled threats about, making sure you never work in this city again, and even a suggestion that he would report my business for tax irregularities, an empty threat since my business finances were meticulously documented. His family joined the pressure campaign. His mother Elaine called to reason with me.
We always knew you weren’t right for James, she said, her voice dripping with condescension. But we accepted you because he chose you. Don’t make this difficult, Alexandra.
Take what’s being offered and move on with dignity. I maintained my composure through it all. A skill I had perfected during years of enduring subtle put-downs at Shannon family gatherings.
Thank you for your concern, Elaine. I’ll be guided by my attorney’s advice. James’s overconfidence began working against him.
Believing I had no resources to fight a prolonged legal battle, he made several critical mistakes. He failed to disclose accounts in the Cayman Islands that I had documentation for. He under-reported the value of his investment portfolio.
He claimed certain family heirlooms were separate property when they had been clearly gifted to us as a couple. Teresa documented each discrepancy meticulously, building a case that would eventually undermine his credibility with the court. Meanwhile, my company experienced exponential growth during the separation period.
A marketing campaign I designed for a regional restaurant chain went viral, leading to features in industry publications. I had to decline interviews, citing personal reasons. But the professional recognition brought in a flood of new clients.
The major breakthrough came when I secured a contract with a national retail chain to overhaul their digital marketing strategy, a six-figure deal that transformed my business from successful to exceptional. I hired three employees, rented a small office space, and began turning down clients whose values didn’t align with my company’s mission. All of this happened as James and his legal team continued to characterize me as a struggling freelancer dependent on his support.
His perception of me as the naive small-town girl dazzled by his wealth had calcified to the point where he couldn’t conceive of my success independent of him. The night before our final court date, I sat alone in the condo that had never felt like home, reflecting on my journey. Five years earlier, I had been so eager to please James that I had begun to lose myself.
His betrayal, painful as it was, had forced me to rediscover my strength, ambition, and worth. I packed a small overnight bag. Regardless of the judge’s decision, I had decided I would not spend another night in the space where my marriage had unraveled.
My new penthouse apartment was ready. Purchased through an LLC James knew nothing about, furnished with pieces I had chosen for their beauty and comfort rather than their status value. As I zipped the bag closed, my phone chimed with a text from Natalie.
Remember who you are tomorrow. Not who he tried to make you be. With those words in my heart, I prepared to face the final act of my marriage to James Shannon.
The morning of our court date dawned clear and crisp. I dressed in a navy blue suit, conservative but confident, with a single piece of jewelry, a small diamond pendant Sophia and Natalie had given me to mark my business’s first anniversary. My independence diamond, they had called it.
I arrived at the courthouse thirty minutes early, as Teresa had advised. James was already there, looking expensive in a tailored charcoal suit. His attorney Lawrence Wilson beside him.
Lawrence was a senior partner at one of Chicago’s most prestigious law firms and had a reputation for aggressive divorce settlements that favored wealthy clients. James smirked when he saw me, leaning over to whisper something to Lawrence that made both men chuckle. His confidence was palpable.
He believed this was merely a formality before his inevitable victory. Teresa arrived moments later, immaculate in a crimson suit that stood out against the courthouse’s muted colors. Unlike Lawrence with his team of junior associates, Teresa worked alone but radiated a quiet competence that had reassured me from our first meeting.
Ready, she asked, her expression giving nothing away to observing eyes. More than ready. I replied, Judge Margaret Thompson’s courtroom was intimidating in its austerity.
The judge herself, a woman in her sixties with silver-streaked dark hair and penetrating eyes, had a reputation for fairness but little patience for games or emotional displays. As proceedings began, James put on a performance worthy of an Oscar. His testimony painted him as the devoted husband who had supported his wife’s modest career ambitions, only to be repaid with ingratitude and unreasonable demands in the divorce.
I just want a fair resolution, your honor, he said, his voice modulated to convey reasonable disappointment. I’ve offered Mrs. Shannon a generous settlement that would allow her to maintain a comfortable lifestyle while she rebuilds her career. Lawrence presented their case for the division of assets, highlighting James’ family wealth as separate property, minimizing my contributions to our marital assets and suggesting that the condo, purchased primarily with his earnings, should remain his property.
Throughout their presentation, I maintained my composure, neither reacting to James’ fabrications nor revealing my emotions. Judge Thompson occasionally glanced my way, her expression unreadable. When it came time to sign the initial divorce decree, separating our marital status while financial matters were finalized, James made a show of it.
He signed with a flourish, a laugh escaping his lips as he capped his Montblanc pen. As he returned to his seat, he passed close enough to whisper, Enjoy going back to your parents’ basement. Teresa’s presentation began methodically, her approach a stark contrast to Lawrence’s theatrical arguments.
She presented evidence of James’ financial deceptions during our marriage, the hidden accounts, the lavish spending on Vanessa, the pattern of financial control. Your Honor, Teresa said, Mr. Shannon has not been forthcoming about the full extent of marital assets as required by Illinois law. She submitted documentation of accounts James had failed to disclose, including dates, account numbers, and approximate balances.
James shifted uncomfortably in his seat as Teresa continued his smug expression, giving way to nervous glances at Lawrence. His attorney requested a brief recess, which Judge Thompson denied. I believe we should continue, Counselor.
I’m particularly interested in hearing about these undisclosed assets. The atmosphere in the courtroom tensed as Teresa methodically dismantled James’s financial deceptions. Judge Thompson’s expression grew increasingly stern as the evidence mounted.
Furthermore, Your Honor, Teresa continued, we request that the court consider Mrs. Shannon’s separate property that was established during the marriage, but without any contribution or support from Mr. Shannon. This was the moment we had prepared for. Judge Thompson looked up from her notes.
Please elaborate, Counselor. Mrs. Shannon established a digital marketing business during the marriage. Mr. Shannon not only provided no support for this venture, but actively discouraged it and belittled her professional ambitions, as evidenced by these communications.
Teresa presented emails and text messages where James had dismissed my business as a hobby and discouraged my entrepreneurial goals. Judge Thompson reviewed the documents carefully before addressing me directly for the first time. Mrs. Shannon, the court requires full financial disclosure from both parties.
Have you submitted complete information about this business venture? Not yet, Your Honor. I replied as we had planned. My complete financial statement is ready for submission today.
Teresa handed the court clerk a sealed envelope containing my complete financial disclosure, the document we had strategically held back until this moment. I request that the court review Mrs. Shannon’s financial statement before making any determinations about asset division. Teresa said.