Chapter 7 - The Lawyer's Advice
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From the bank, Skylar went directly to the law offices of Vance & Sterling. The social worker at the hospital had given her a card for a fierce family law attorney named Cassandra Vance, noting that she specialized in cases involving financial abuse and domestic violence.
Cassandra Vance was a formidable woman in a tailored gray suit, with sharp eyes that missed absolutely nothing. She poured Skylar a glass of water and listened intently as Skylar laid out the entire timeline, ending by sliding the portable hard drive across the polished mahogany desk.
"The audio of the assault is on there," Skylar said. "Along with the hospital report and the police case number."
Cassandra plugged the drive into her computer and listened to the recording. When Derek’s voice commanded Skylar to leave 'his' house, the lawyer let out a short, humorless laugh.
"The audacity of mediocre men never fails to astound me," Cassandra said, leaning back in her chair. "Let’s talk about this apartment. You mentioned you purchased it before the marriage?"
"Yes. The deed is entirely in my name. The mortgage is in my name. I made the down payment using my own savings and a gift from my grandmother."
"Did marital funds go toward the mortgage payments?"
"Derek contributed nothing," Skylar said, sliding the fresh bank statements across the desk. "He claimed his salary was being used to pay off his student loans, but as you can see, he was funneling his money—and mine—to his sister. Every mortgage payment came directly from my personal checking account."
Cassandra smiled, and it was a terrifying, predatory expression.
"Ms. Bennett, under Florida law, this property is considered a premarital asset, and because he did not contribute to its appreciation or maintenance, he has absolutely no claim to it."
"He told me to leave," Skylar said, touching the bandage on her face.
"He is in for a very rude awakening," Cassandra replied, pulling a stack of blank legal forms toward her. "I am going to draft an emergency ex parte restraining order based on the physical assault. Because he poses an imminent threat to your safety, a judge will sign this by tomorrow morning."
"What does that mean for the apartment?"
"It means Derek Foster will be legally ordered to vacate the premises immediately, surrender his keys, and he will be barred from coming within five hundred feet of you, your home, or your workplace."
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Skylar felt a sudden, profound weight lift from her chest. The apartment was hers. The money was hers. Her life was finally going to belong to her again.
"Draft it," Skylar said. "And draw up the divorce papers while you're at it."
