Chapter 7 - A New FoundationTwo weeks later, the legal dust had settled with the terrifying speed of a Category 5 hurricane hitting an amateur sandcastle.
Garret returned from Miami to find himself locked out not just of Redwood Crest, but out of his marriage entirely. Stripped of the illusion of wealth he had leeched off Audrey for years, he faced a swift, unceremonious divorce filing that left him with exactly what he had brought into the marriage: nothing. His mother’s attempts to threaten legal action collapsed instantly when confronted by Audrey’s powerhouse legal team and the unbreakable prenup.
Inside a bright, sunlit penthouse overlooking the Denver skyline, Audrey sat on a plush cream sofa, sipping a cup of herbal tea.
Maya gurgled happily in her crib nearby, surrounded by soft toys and golden afternoon light.
Paige walked in from the kitchen, setting a plate of fresh pastries on the coffee table. "You know, watching Garret try to explain to his corporate buddies why he’s suddenly crashing on his mother's pull-out couch is the best entertainment I've had all year."
Audrey smiled, looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the magnificent mountain peaks in the distance. She had traded a gilded cage built on someone else's arrogance for a fortress built entirely by her own hands.
Her phone buzzed with a text message from Natalie: Divorce settlement finalized. All assets secured. Ready for the next chapter?
May you like
Audrey typed her reply with a single hand while gently picking up her daughter.
Always.
