Laura hesitated for a moment, then asked, “What do you think my chances are? of getting a fair settlement, I mean.
Sandra leaned forward, her eyes meeting Laura’s. “Based on what you’ve told me, I think we’re in a good position, Leon’s infidelity, while not the deciding factor, does work in our favor. Your contributions to the marriage, both financial and non–financial, are significant. But I want to be clear–divorce cases can be unpredictable. We’ll fight for the best possible outcome, but I can’t guarantee anything”
Laura nodded, feeling a mix of hope and anxiety. “I appreciate your honesty.”
As the meeting concluded, Sandra walked Laura back to the lobby. “Remember, document everything,” she said. “And if anything new comes up, or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call. We’re in this together.”
Laura left the office feeling more informed but still emotionally conflicted. As she walked to her car, Sandra’s words echoed in her mind. Document everything. The seed of an idea began to take root
‘s house
Despite her lawyer’s warning against rash actions, Laura found herself driving towards Leon’s office instead of back to Jen’s She e parked her car a block away, her heart racing as she realized what she was about to do
“This is crazy,” she muttered to herself, but she didn’t start the car. Instead, she settled in for what she knew could be a long wait
Hours passed as Laura observed the comings and goings at Leon’s workplace. She alternated between feeling ridiculous and justified, her emotions swinging wildly as the morning wore on.
Around 10:30, a familiar red convertible pulled into the parking lot. Laura’s stomach churned as she watched Vanessa step out, her long legs accentuated by a short skirt that seemed inappropriate for an office setting
“Seriously?” Laura muttered, her knuckles white on the steering wheel. “Does she not own any actual work clothes?”
She watched as Vanessa sauntered into the building, her high heels clicking on the pavement. Laura’s imagination went into overdrive, picturing Vanessa draping herself over Leon’s desk, giggling at his stupid jokes.
Time crawled by. Laura’s back ached from sitting in the car, and she was starting to get hungry. Just as she was considering giving up and going home, she saw Leon and Vanessa emerge from the building
Her heart raced as she watched them walk down the street, heading towards a nearby café. Without thinking, Laura got out of her car and followed them, trying to maintain a safe distance..
She trailed them awkwardly, ducking behind newspaper stands and pretending to be deeply interested in store window displays whenever they paused or looked back. She felt ridiculous, like a character in a bad spy movie, but she couldn’t bring herself to stop
Laura managed to snag a table at the café, positioned where she could see Leon and Vanessa but they couldn’t easily spot her. She ordered a coffee she didn’t want, straining to hear their conversation over the buzz of the lunch crowd.
just don’t see why she’s being so difficult,” she heard Vanessa say, her voice carrying across the room. “It’s not like you two were happy anyway.”
Leon’s reply was too low for Laura to catch, but she saw him shake his head, his expression troubled.
Vanessa reached across the table, placing her hand on Leon’s. “Baby, don’t let her get to you. Once this is all over, we can start our life together properly.”
Laura felt bille rise in her throat. She wanted to march over there, to confront them both, to scream and rage at the injustice of it all. But Sandra’s warning rang in her ears. No confrontations. Nothing to jeopardize the case.
With shaking hands, Laura paid for her untouched coffee and left the café. She returned to her car, feeling drained and foolish.
The afternoon stretched on interminably. Laura made a quick trip to a nearby convenience store for snacks and to use the restroom, constantly tearful of missing something crucial. But hour after hour passed with no sign of Leon or Vanessa.
As evening approached, Laura’s patience wore thin. Her back ached, her eyes were tired, and she felt grimy from sitting in the car all day. She was just about to give up when she finally saw Leon leaving the building alone.
Hastily, she started her car and followed him, her heart pounding. This was it, she thought. He was probably heading to some secret
rendezvous with Vanessa.
But to her immense disappointment, Leon drove straight home, making only a brief stop at a grocery store. Laura watched from across the street as he loaded a few bags into his car, then continued on his way.
As she followed Leon’s car into their old neighborhood, Laura felt a wave of emotion wash over her. This had been her route home for years. She knew every turn, every stoplight. She could almost imagine that nothing had changed, that she was just coming home from a long day at work, ready to curl up on the couch with Leon and talk about their day.
But everything had changed. And here she was, skulking around like a criminal, tollowing her soon–to–be ex–husband home.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN The expected Visitor at Midrigt
TA
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – The Unexpected Visitor at Midnight
Leon pulled into their driveway – his driveway now, Laura reminded herself bitterly. She drove past slowly, catching a glimpse of him unloading the groceries. There was no sign of Vanessa.
Frustrated and exhausted, Laura realized her efforts had been in vain. She’d gained no new Information, unless you counted the fact that Leon still shopped at the same grocery store and apparently still couldn’t remember to take reusable bags.
As she drove back to Jen’s house, she berated herself for wasting an entire day on this fruitless endeavor. What had she been hoping to accomplish? Catch Leon in some dramatic act of villainy? Get photographic evidence of him and Vanessa together? The reality – Leon going about his normal, boring routine was almost more painful than any scandalous revelation could have been.
It was fully dark by the time Laura pulled into Jen’s driveway. As she walked up to the front door, it swung open, revealing a worried- looking Jen
“Where have you been?” Jen demanded. “I’ve been calling you for hours!”
Laura winced, realizing she’d left her phone on silent. “I’m sorry, I did something really stupid.”
Jen’s expression softened. She stepped back, ushering Laura inside. “Come on, tell me all about it.”
Over a bastily microwaved dinner, Laura confessed to her amateur sleuthing attempt. Jen listened without judgment, her face a mix of concern and understanding
“Oh, Laura,” she sighed when Laura finished her story. “I get why you did it, but honey, you can’t keep torturing yourself like this.”
Laura nodded, pushing her food around her plate. “I know. It was dumb and pointless and probably illegal. I just I needed to do something, you know? 1 felt so powerless,”
er and a sister who’s
Jen reached across the table, squeezing Laura’s hand. “I know. But you’re not powerless. You’ve got a kickass lawyer ready to throw down in parking lots for you.”
Despite herself, Laura laughed. “God, please don’t remind me of that. I still can’t believe that happened.”
As they cleaned up from dinner, Laura felt some of the day’s tension start to ease. She was lucky, she realized, to have Jen’s unwavering support
Before bed, Laura sat down at the small desk in the guest room. She opened her laptop and composed a quick email to Sandra. scheduling another meeting to discuss more productive ways to strengthen her case
As she hit send, Laura made a silent promise to herself. No more amateur detective work. From now on, she’d do this the right way. She had to believe that in the end, justice would prevail.
The aroma of freshly baked cookies wafted through the air, gently rousing Laura from her slumber. She blinked slowly, her eyes adjusting to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. For a moment, she felt disoriented, the unfamiliar surroundings of Jen’s quest room throwing her off. Then reality crashed back, bringing with it the weight of her current situation.
But today, something felt different. Maybe it was the comforting smell of cookies, or perhaps it was the warm sunlight painting the room in a golden glow, Whatever the reason, Laura felt a small spark of optimism as she stretched and sat up.
She padded downstairs, following the delicious scent to the kitchen. Jen stood at the counter, sliding cookies off a baking sheet onto a cooling rack
“Morning, sleepyhead, Jen said with a smile. “I thought the smell might lure you out of bed.”
Laura yawned and reached for a cookie. “You’re like a fairy godmother, but with baked goods instead of magic wands.”
Jen swatted her hand playfully. “At least wait until they cool down a bit. How’d you sleep?”
“Better than I have in a while, actually,” Laura admitted, pouring herself a cup of coffee. “I don’t know why, but I’m feeling. I don’t want to say good, exactly, but maybe… hopeful?”
Jen’s smile widened. “That’s great, Laura. You deserve to feel hopeful.”
They chatted as they waited for the cookies to cool, the kitchen filled with the comfortable buzz of sisterly conversation. Laura found herself laughing at Jen’s jokes, the sound almost foreign to her ears after weeks of stress and sadness.
“I think I’m going to go for a quick run,” Laura announced, finishing her coffee. “Might as well take advantage of this good mood while
it lasts.”
