Chapter 1Split Every Bill to Help the Intern

I logged into our Shared Family Expense Ledger.

This month's expenses had been split down the middle by my husband once again. I transferred my half over and joked half-heartedly.

"We've been married for years. Are you really worried I'm taking advantage of you?"

Miles Thornton didn't answer.

It wasn't until my mother died in a car crash that the truth hit.

Facing 300,000 dollars in legal fees and funeral expenses, I turned to Miles for help, but sitting behind his desk, he didn't even lift an eyelid.

"That's your family matter. I have no obligation to foot the bill for you."

I clutched the exorbitant bills, my fingernails digging deep into my palms, and emphasized that I was only asking for a loan.

An impatient glint flickered in his eyes. "If you need money, I can recommend a few lending platforms with reasonable interest rates. You know, all my cash is tied up in investments right now."

His phone rang, and he stepped outside to take the call. While he was gone, an open file on his computer screen caught my eye.

It read: [Susan Griffith's Rescue Fund. $126,000 to smooth things over with her clients. $50,000 for a custom designer gown for her to wear at a gala...]

Susan was the underprivileged intern he had taken under his wing.

Over our marriage, I had split 635 separate expenses with Miles, and every cent saved had gone straight into that fund.

I did the math as well.

If I wasn't the one he cared to help, then he had no right to be part of my future.

* * *

I was just about to push the door open and step out when I overheard his conversation.

"This project of yours has immense potential." Miles Thornton spoke into his phone. "It would be a tragedy if it died because of a lack of funds. I'll transfer half a million to your account right away so you can keep moving forward."

The account updated in real time on his monitor. $500,000 was transferred directly to Susan Griffith's account. So, it wasn't that he didn't have cash. He just refused to give it to me.

When the call ended, Miles pushed the office door open and handed me the invoice for this month's expenditures. "Remember to transfer your half to me by the 15th."

"I don't have the money," I said evenly.

He froze, his brows furrowing. "Look, I'm sorry about what happened to your mother, but you can't let that drag down our quality of life."

He spoke so calmly, as if my mother were nothing more than a stray pet that had passed away. It hurt me so badly, as if my chest were being ripped wide open.

I took a deep, trembling breath. "I want a divorce."

The air in the room instantly turned cold.

"I insisted on splitting expenses to teach you how to be independent," he sulked, "not so you could throw tantrums whenever you get emotional."

"It's not a tantrum," I said, holding his gaze. "I've just discovered that you've been funneling money to someone else all these years."

An unmistakable wave of irritation washed over his face. "Were you eavesdropping on my phone call?"

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Ironically, his first instinct wasn't to explain himself or reassure me, but to blame me for invading his privacy.

Out of patience, he opened his office door and made a clear gesture for me to leave.

"Go home for now," he said coldly. "I'll recommend a few attorneys who can offer you a discount. Figure out the rest yourself."

His assistant politely "escorted" me out of the suite. As I walked past the cubicles, whispers rippled.

"She only got her job here because of Mr. Thornton in the first place. Now she's trying to scam money out of him for a lawsuit? Who knows if her mother was just pulling an insurance scam anyway?"

"She doesn't hold a candle to Susan, who works so hard. Mr. Thornton actually wants to mentor her."

"If Daisy hadn't had Mr. Thornton backing her up, she would have been kicked to the curb months ago. Who wants an employee sitting around on a free ride?"

...

My phone buzzed with notifications as Miles sent over contact details for a dozen attorneys.

[Specialized in financial disputes and criminal law. Discounted rates available.]

[Specialized in divorce litigation. Fees negotiable.]

...

With every contact that popped up, it felt like my phone was mocking just how utter a failure my marriage was. With a bitter smile, I added one of the attorneys at random and sent a message.

[Draft a divorce agreement for me. As soon as possible.]