Within thirty minutes, two private security officers arrived at the front entrance of the mansion.
They stood behind Valerie as she gathered her small personal bag from the hallway table.
Julian walked down the grand staircase, his tie loosened and his posture completely defeated.
Julian: You can't just leave us like this after three years of marriage.
Valerie turned around to face him one last time under the soft hall light.
Valerie: The divorce lawyer will deliver the final settlement papers to your office tomorrow morning.
Julian: What kind of settlement?
Valerie: A fair one. You get to keep what you actually earned yourself.
Julian flinched because he knew his personal earnings were virtually non-existent.
Everything he owned was bought using the monthly allowance provided by her grandfather's trust.
Clara came running down the hall with tears streaming down her face.
Clara: My card was declined at the boutique just now! Undo this, Valerie!
Valerie looked at Clara without a hint of pity in her dark eyes.
Valerie: You should learn how to get a job, Clara.
Evelyn sat on the bottom step of the staircase, weeping quietly into her hands.
The family that had spent years belittling an innocent woman was now stripped of power.
Valerie picked up her leather briefcase containing her true personal assets.
Valerie: The mansion foreclosure notice will arrive by the end of the week.
Julian took a deep breath, his voice barely louder than a whisper.
Julian: Where are you going to go?
Valerie smiled softly, a genuine look of relief appearing on her face for the first time.
Valerie: I am going back to my life, Julian.