Chapter 19: The Prenup Battle
The peaceful rhythm of my breath carried me through the last pose of my morning yoga routine. Sixteen weeks into my pregnancy, yoga had become my lifeline—a brief, fragile escape from the chaos of my reality.
Then, the doorbell rang, slicing through the calm like a knife. My eyes shot open, a sense of foreboding settling in my chest.
I wiped my hands on my leggings and walked to the door, my heart racing. A courier stood there, a thick manila envelope clutched in his hand.
"Diane Ashton?" he asked, barely glancing up from his clipboard.
"Yes," I said, my voice tighter than I intended.
"Sign here."
I scribbled my name, my hands trembling slightly as I took the envelope. The return address made my blood run cold—Richard Holbrook, Liam's high-powered lawyer.
"Joan?" I called, closing the door with a thud. My voice wavered as I stepped into the living room. "It's here."
Joan emerged from her home office, her sharp eyes narrowing at the sight of the envelope. "Let's open it together," she said, her voice calm but serious.
I tore it open, my pulse roaring in my ears. My eyes scanned the papers, and with each word, my stomach twisted tighter.
"He wants everything," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "The house. The cars. Even my shares in the company I helped build." My throat tightened. "According to this prenup, I walk away with nothing."