part 7
PART 7
The court order came before sunrise.
Temporary divorce injunction granted.
Asset freeze confirmed.
Dominic barred from contacting Audrey directly.
Victoria barred from the estate and hospital.
All Vale Meridian access revoked.
All communications preserved.
Sophia read each line aloud beside Audrey’s bed.
Audrey listened with her eyes closed.
Her body hurt less than yesterday.
Her heart hurt more.
Dominic sent seven emails through his attorney by noon.
The first called everything a misunderstanding.
The second blamed Victoria.
The third blamed Paige.
The fourth said Audrey was emotional from the loss.
The fifth asked for access to his clothes at the estate.
The sixth asked for his corporate card.
The seventh said he still loved her.
Audrey laughed at that one.
It came out rough.
Sophia looked up.
“What?”
“He put love after the credit card.”
Sophia did not smile.
“He is telling us his priorities in order.”
The estate staff sent photos.
Dominic’s office had been sealed.
Victoria’s guest suite locked.
Paige’s overnight bag found in Dominic’s wardrobe.
Audrey stared at that picture for a long time.
Not because she needed proof of the affair.
Because betrayal has layers.
Some hurt because they surprise you.
Some hurt because they confirm what you begged yourself not to know.
The police interview happened that afternoon.
Audrey told them about the staircase.
Victoria’s hand.
The shove.
Dominic’s delay.
The asset documents.
The hospital kiss.
She did not exaggerate.
She did not need to.
Truth was heavy enough.
The detective asked, “Do you believe Dominic intended for you to be harmed?”
Audrey looked at the window.
“I believe Dominic intended for me to become easier to control.”
Sophia looked at her.
The detective wrote it down.
That evening, Mark Vale, Audrey’s older brother, arrived from Boston.
He stopped at the doorway and went pale.
“Audrey.”
She tried to smile.
Failed.
He crossed the room and took her unbandaged hand.
“I should have come sooner.”
She shook her head.
“I should have called sooner.”
Mark looked at Sophia.
“Tell me what to do.”
Audrey answered first.
May you like
“Help me bury the version of me who kept forgiving them.”
Read the full story 👉 The court froze Dominic’s access, but Audrey knew the hardest part would be ending the version of herself that kept excusing him.
