I felt something shift inside my chest, a hardening that replaced the shock and grief I’d been carrying since Tuesday morning. Robert had spent months, maybe years, planning to destroy my financial security while I’d been lovingly maintaining our home and planning our retirement together.

“Mrs. Williams, I want to fight this. All of it.”

“Good. Because, Mrs. Gillian, based on what you’ve discovered, you’re potentially worth significantly more than your husband wants you to know. These offshore accounts, the hidden property investments, the retirement fund manipulations—we’re looking at assets that could total well over a million dollars that he’s trying to keep from you.”

A million dollars. I thought about my modest lifestyle, my careful budgeting, my assumption that we were comfortable but not wealthy. Meanwhile, Robert had been building a secret fortune while telling me I didn’t need to worry about the complicated financial matters.

“What happens next?”

“Next, we file an emergency motion to freeze all assets until we can conduct a complete financial investigation. And, Mrs. Gillian, we’re going to need Emily’s testimony about the conversation she overheard.”

“Emily’s testimony? She’s eight years old.”

“Eight-year-old witnesses are more common than you’d think in divorce proceedings, especially when they’ve observed financial planning meetings or conversations about hidden assets. Children often see and hear things that adults assume they’ll ignore or forget.”

I thought about Emily, about her serious attention to adult conversations, about her protective instincts toward me, and her anger at Robert’s meanness. She was mature for her age, but asking her to testify against her grandfather felt enormous.

“Would she have to appear in court?”

“Possibly, but we’d request a private meeting with the judge rather than open court proceedings. Mrs. Gillian, Emily’s observations are currently our strongest evidence of your husband’s premeditated fraud.”

That evening, I sat down with Emily and Jessica to explain the situation carefully. Jessica’s reaction was immediate and explosive.

“Dad has been hiding money for how long?”

“I don’t know yet. The lawyer is investigating, but it appears he’s been planning this divorce for at least a year, maybe longer.”

“Mom, I am so sorry. When you were helping me through my divorce, dealing with child care and emotional support, Dad was planning to do the same thing to you.”

“It appears so.”

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