Chapter 26 - The final orders
Six months after the assault, the divorce became final.
Ava was still an infant.
No years.
No new marriages.
No future children.
Property:
My separate inheritance remained mine.
Ryan kept Cobalt Ridge and Carter Strategic interests.
I received agreed offsets through marital brokerage and sale proceeds.
Rental townhouse sold.
Mansion remained Hale Residential Trust property with my occupancy rights.
Marital retirement equalized.
Dissipation credits applied for affair expenses and part of misconduct-related legal spending.
No punitive forfeiture of everything Ryan owned.
Then parenting.
Joint legal decision-making?
Domestic violence finding can affect. Court gave me sole decision-making authority for major medical decisions for the first year, with Ryan direct access to pediatric records and right to be informed, because of communication/safety history and Ava’s infancy.
For routine nonmedical issues during his parenting time:
Ryan decides.
Parenting schedule:
Two weekday daytime blocks.
One longer weekend daytime block.
No overnights yet due infant age, feeding, recent progression and safety—not permanent.
Review in several months based on compliance.
Professional exchange.
No Melissa.
Not because mistress status alone, but no need and conflict.
No Hale brothers at exchanges unless emergency.
That condition made Marcus laugh.
Then domestic-violence treatment.
Ryan must remain compliant.
No corporal punishment.
No discussing litigation around child—obvious, though she was infant.
Then protection order.
Remained in force.
Parenting communication exception.
Then Ryan addressed me after hearing through lawyers only.
No hallway speech.
His attorney conveyed:
“He accepts.”
That was enough.
Then Alexander asked:
“Are you disappointed he still gets to be her father?”
I looked at him.
“No.”
“Really?”
“I’m disappointed he became someone I needed protection from.”
Different.
Then:
“But Ava deserves facts about who he becomes after that too.”
Alexander nodded.
May you like
No argument.
That was the last major decision.
