Chapter 8: Jared Fights Back
He called on a Thursday.
I was in the car, parked outside the grocery store, and his name appeared on the screen and I sat there for one full ring before I answered.
"I spoke to my attorney," he said.
"Okay."
"He thinks you're overreaching.
The apartment was in my name.
The money I moved was mine to move."
"Daniel's name was on the account."
"Daniel gave me permission."
"Daniel gave you permission to borrow money for a business investment.
Not to fund a second household." I kept my voice even.
"Your attorney knows that distinction."
A pause.
"Claire, I'm trying to keep this reasonable."
"You're trying to keep this in your favor.
Those aren't the same thing."
"I have a proposal." His voice shifted into the tone I had once found reassuring — measured, considered, like he was being the adult in the room.
"We split the assets down the middle.
You keep the house.
I take my business interest.
We agree on a support arrangement for the boys and we don't drag this through court."
"My attorney will respond to your attorney."
"I'm asking you directly."
"I know you are.
And my answer is that my attorney will respond to your attorney."
Silence.
"You found something," he said.
"In the files."
I didn't answer.
"Claire.
Whatever you think you found—"
"Jared.
I need to go."
"The Whitmore contract." His voice changed.
Something harder came into it.
"That was my deal.
I built that relationship."
"The introduction was made at the Riverside Charity Gala in October 2019.
My name is on the invitation.
My email is in the thread."
The silence on his end was different this time.
"You want to go to war over this," he said quietly.
"Fine.
But understand — I will make this very difficult for you.
I have resources you don't.
I have time you don't.
And I will not make it easy."
My hand tightened on the phone.
"Jared," I said, "I walked every morning this year.
Through winter.
Through pain.
Through every cruel thing you said to me." I heard my son's words in my own mouth and I let them stay there.
"Do you really think I'm afraid of difficult?"
He hung up.
I sat in the parking lot for a moment.
My heart was going faster than I wanted it to.
I breathed through it.
Then I got out of the car, went into the grocery store, and bought everything on my list.
When I got home, there was an email from Patricia.
Short.
Direct.
*His attorney contacted us this morning.
They're pushing for mediation and a fast settlement.
That tells me they're worried about what we have.
Don't agree to anything yet.
Call me tomorrow.*
I read it twice.
Then I forwarded it to Daniel with one line: *I think it's working.*
May you like
His reply came in under a minute: *It is.
Stay steady.*
