Michael finally found his voice, though it was strained and hollow. “Anna… we can discuss this. Surely there’s something we can do.”

I shook my head, standing my ground. “The terms are clear, Michael. You agreed to them, as did I. You made your choices, and now you must live with them.”

In that moment, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. The years of bitterness, the accusations, and the hurtful words all faded into the past. I was free.

As I walked toward the door, leaving behind the cold, impersonal trappings of the law office, I felt a sense of closure. The chapter of my life with Michael was over, but I was stepping into a new one, armed with the knowledge that I had stood up for myself in the face of adversity.

I paused at the threshold, turning back for a final look at the stunned faces around the table. “I wish you both well,” I said, my voice steady and sincere.

With that, I left the room, the future ahead of me a blank canvas, ready to be painted in vibrant colors of my own choosing. No longer bound by the past, I walked forward with renewed purpose and the knowledge that, sometimes, the