Chapter 17 - Julian’s counterattack
Julian became angriest when he realized I was not begging him to come home.
He filed for divorce first.
Then sought expanded parenting time.
Reasonable legally.
Less reasonable were the accusations.
He claimed I had:
Manipulated Lily against Chloe.
Recorded private family interactions strategically.
Used Robert’s investment to pressure Hartwell Hospitality.
Created public harassment through social media.
One of those was partly true.
My post had created harassment I did not intend.
Rebecca told me:
“Do not respond to the whole filing emotionally.”
“I want to.”
“I know.”
We answered facts.
The second phone was mine.
No spyware.
No unlawful account access shown.
The call with Robert was lawful as far as our counsel assessed because I participated in the conversation and was using ordinary communication.
Robert did not threaten the company.
Board action was independent.
I had never told Lily Chloe was:
“Daddy’s mistress.”
I used:
“someone Dad had a relationship with while we were married”
only with therapist guidance later.
Still, Julian’s filing contained one useful criticism.
I had begun documenting every interaction obsessively.
Meals.
Pickup times.
Exact words.
Lily’s moods.
Rebecca said:
“Some records are appropriate. This is becoming surveillance.”
I hated that.
Then saw the notebook.
Seventy-four pages.
I had written:
7:13 p.m. Lily asked why Dad did not choose her.
7:16 p.m. cried six minutes.
That was not sustainable.
Evidence had become an attempt to control uncertainty.
I stopped.
May you like
Kept necessary parenting records.
Let the rest become life.
