Chapter 13 - THE HOUSE STOPPED BEING A FAMILY PROJECT
The Beverly Hills mansion remained empty for almost three months.
Sophia hated returning.
Then she hated the idea of Jackson turning that into proof she did not want it.
So she made herself ask the harder question:
Did she actually want to live there?
The answer surprised her.
Not really.
She had bought it at twenty-nine because it represented arrival.
Successful company.
Money.
View.
Space.
Then Jackson moved in.
Then the Coles filled it with family dinners.
Then Grace began treating it like future compensation.
The property had become a symbol for everyone.
Sophia wanted it to become real estate again.
She moved back temporarily.
Replaced the dining table.
Not because the table was guilty.
Because looking at the old one made her stomach tighten.
She repaired a chipped section of flooring.
Changed nothing else.
Six months later, she listed the mansion.
Jackson found out through divorce disclosures.
He called.
“Are you selling?”
“Yes.”
“You fought this hard to keep it and now you’re selling?”
Sophia almost laughed.
“I fought to keep the decision.”
Silence.
That sentence finally made sense to him.
“Right.”
The mansion sold for $7.35 million.
After the mortgage and costs, the proceeds went into Sophia’s separate investment account according to the prenup.
Not Grace.
Not Jackson.
Not Cole Urban Living.
Sophia bought a smaller modern house in Pacific Palisades.
Still beautiful.
Much easier to maintain.
No formal dining room.
She loved that.
The first dinner she hosted had six people.
Pizza.
May you like
Wine.
Nobody discussed ownership.
