Chapter 14 - Claire moves out
Claire did not file for divorce immediately.
She did move out.
With Lily.
A furnished house fifteen minutes away.
I offered to leave the mansion instead.
She said:
“No. Lily needs somewhere that doesn’t feel like the room where she got hurt.”
So she chose another place.
We established temporary parenting schedule for Lily:
Mostly Claire initially because of concussion recovery.
Regular time with me.
No Ryan present.
Could Claire legally prevent me from seeing Ryan during my time with Lily forever?
Not automatically.
But I agreed to safety separation.
Then marriage counseling.
First session:
Claire asked:
“Were you ever going to tell me?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
I waited too long.
She laughed bitterly.
“That answer is the entire marriage.”
Then therapist asked me:
“What were you protecting?”
“My marriage.”
Claire said:
May you like
“You protected the version of our marriage that existed only because I didn’t know the truth.”
Correct.
