Chapter 3 - GLORIA MENDEZ
Gloria Mendez was the kind of attorney who made people uncomfortable by remaining calm.
She read Ethan's messages without changing expression.
Then she placed the phone on the desk.
“You have two choices.”
Natalie waited.
“You can spend the next year fighting emotionally.”
“And the other?”
“You can fight intelligently.”
Natalie leaned forward.
“I want the second.”
Gloria nodded.
“Good.”
She opened a folder.
“Your husband believes the house belongs to the marriage.”
“It doesn't.”
“I know.”
“He never checked.”
“That is his first mistake.”
Gloria flipped another page.
“Your father transferred the land to you before the marriage.”
“Yes.”
“Was Ethan ever added to the deed?”
“No.”
“Did he contribute money toward purchasing the land?”
“No.”
“Did he make improvements?”
“Some.”
“Were those improvements paid through joint accounts?”
“Some.”
Gloria nodded.
“That creates issues we will address.”
Natalie swallowed.
“Can he take the property?”
“Not simply because he wants it.”
“What about the house?”
Gloria looked at her.
“That depends on what the house legally is and how we handle relocation.”
Natalie stared.
“Relocation?”
“You said you wanted him to come home to nothing.”
Natalie nodded.
“I did.”
Gloria's mouth curved slightly.
“Then let's make sure 'nothing' is legally precise.”
For the next two days, Natalie did things she had never imagined doing.
She froze her credit.
She changed passwords.
She opened an individual bank account.
She collected copies of tax records.
She photographed documents.
She preserved every threatening message.
She created a timeline of Ethan's behavior.
And she told her children the truth.
Claire cried.
Mason didn't.
He simply asked, “Are we leaving?”
Natalie nodded.
“Eventually.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere safe.”
Mason looked at her.
“Mom.”
“Yes?”
“Dad thinks you're helpless.”
Natalie looked at her son.
“I know.”
“Are you?”
She smiled sadly.
“No.”
That night, she called a licensed modular-home moving company.
A man named Ray Harper arrived the next morning.
He walked around the house.
He inspected the foundation.
He checked structural points.
He measured every doorway.
Finally, he removed his cap.
“We can move it.”
Natalie looked at him.
“How fast?”
“Fast enough.”
“Will it survive?”
Ray smiled.
“This house has survived twenty years of marriage.”
Natalie almost laughed.
“Then it can survive anything.”
Ray nodded.
“Where do you want it?”
Natalie looked toward the horizon.
May you like
“Somewhere Ethan can't touch.”
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