In front of my husband’s family, my mother-in-law said that by getting married I had “moved up in life.” I filed for divorce right then and there… But the next day, in front of the judge, they discovered who I really was.

My phone wouldn’t stop vibrating with messages from my board of directors and legal counsel.

The Miller Tech IPO was scheduled for that morning, at the exact same time I was supposed to sign my divorce papers.

I arrived at the government building at nine-thirty and found Tyler already waiting there with Cordelia and Brielle.

My mother-in-law was wearing oversized sunglasses and exuded the same haughty energy of a queen visiting a peasant village.

“Well, look at this, she actually showed up to face the music,” Cordelia sneered.

“I’m here to finish what should have ended years ago,” I replied calmly.

Tyler looked at me with a confused expression, sensing a change in my posture that he couldn’t quite explain.

I wasn’t the woman who bowed her head anymore or whispered so as not to disturb the “distinguished” family peace.

I took a ticket from the kiosk and sat down to wait.

My phone buzzed again with a message stating that the media was already gathering at the exchange.

“Are you still playing on that toy as if you have important business to attend to?” Brielle mocked.

I ignored her completely until the clerk finally called our number.

“Reason for the filing?” the clerk asked without looking up.