Chapter 8 - THE DECISION THAT COST HER THE MARRIAGE
Maddie met Bradley in Celia’s conference room two days later.
Bradley brought his own attorney.
He looked furious that Maddie had done the same.
“This is ridiculous.”
Maddie placed the disputed gift certification on the table.
“Did you sign my name?”
Bradley looked toward his attorney.
His attorney looked at the document.
“Bradley, don’t answer that yet.”
That was enough.
Maddie felt the last piece of her marriage detach.
Not because Bradley had been caught.
Because his first instinct was still self-protection.
Celia explained that Maddie was withdrawing completely from the Lake Geneva transaction and would cooperate with whatever verification process the lender required concerning the disputed electronic signature.
Bradley leaned toward Maddie.
“You’re going to blow up everyone’s life.”
“No.”
Her voice stayed calm.
“I’m removing my money from something I didn’t agree to.”
“Mom could lose her house.”
“Why?”
Bradley stopped.
Maddie had expected anger.
Instead, she saw fear.
Genuine fear.
Celia noticed it too.
“What does Barbara’s house have to do with this transaction?”
Bradley’s attorney interrupted.
“We’re done.”
Bradley stood.
Maddie remained seated.
“You told me the Lake Geneva property was an investment.”
Bradley picked up his jacket.
“It is.”
“Then why does your mother lose her home if I don’t fund it?”
He walked out without answering.
That afternoon, Maddie told Celia to begin preparing a divorce petition.
It was the first decision she made that could not be disguised as cooling off.
She would not return to Bradley while deciding whether he deserved another chance.
She would decide from outside the marriage.
Barbara called that night.
May you like
Maddie almost ignored it.
“Please,” Barbara said. “Before you file anything else, you need to know what Bradley promised me.”
