Chapter 6 - The Freezing Order
The next morning, the sun rose over a world that felt fundamentally lighter.
I was sitting at the kitchen island of my mother’s house, nursing Lily while the morning news played softly on the living room television. My phone buzzed incessantly on the marble countertop—dozens of missed calls, frantic text messages, and long, rambling voice notes from Daniel begging for a second chance, swearing that Chloe meant nothing, and pleading with me not to involve lawyers.
I didn't listen to a single voicemail. I simply blocked his number and forwarded every new message directly to Victoria Sterling.
At 9:00 AM sharp, my phone rang with an incoming call from Victoria’s office.
"Good morning, Jennifer," Victoria’s brisk, professional voice came through the speaker. "I hope you slept well after yesterday's dramatic finale."
"Better than I have in four months," I replied, smiling down at Lily, who was nursing peacefully. "Did the papers get filed?"
"First thing this morning," Victoria said with evident satisfaction in her tone. "We filed for a fault-based divorce citing adultery and financial dissipation. Furthermore, because we acted quickly, Judge Reynolds has already granted an emergency ex parte restraining order freezing all of Daniel’s personal and corporate bank accounts, investment portfolios, and credit lines. He can't access a single dime."
I let out a long breath of relief. "What about the hotel bill from yesterday?"
"Oh, that's the best part," Victoria laughed softly. "The Grandview Hotel management detained Daniel for two hours yesterday afternoon until his father finally stepped in and paid the four thousand five hundred dollars out of his own pocket to prevent his son from being arrested for defrauding a service establishment. Daniel's father is furious, and he's cut Daniel out of his personal will."
"Play stupid games, win stupid prizes," I murmured.
"Exactly," Victoria agreed. "Now, as for custody and asset division, we are in an exceptionally strong position. Between the digital trail you secured, the bank transfer logs, the birth certificate of the second child, and the public humiliation he brought upon himself at the hotel, Daniel doesn't have a legal leg to stand on. He’s going to be fighting an uphill battle just to keep his job."
May you like
"Make sure we secure full primary custody of Lily, and maximum financial support," I said firmly. "I want to ensure my daughter’s future is completely insulated from his wreckage."
"Consider it done," Victoria assured me. "Meet me at my office tomorrow morning at ten to sign the formal deposition papers. Enjoy your peace today, Jennifer. You earned every bit of it."
