Chapter 6
Derek’s smirk freezes mid-laugh.
He stares at the gold-embossed law firm name on the letterhead, pupils shrinking to pinpoints.
It’s not some bargain-bin practice-it’s Thompson & Associates, the powerhouse firm that rivals his own, especially in divorce cases.
And the signature at the bottom-Sarah Thompson-she’s a legend in the field. Ruthless, brilliant, and she never
loses.
Derek’s breathing hitches for just a second.
But he quickly recovers, or pretends to.
‘Thompson? Damn, you really went all out.”
He flips past the letter to my compiled documents, that old contempt creeping back into his voice.
‘This is what you’ve got? Jess, being a housewife really fried your brain, didn’t it? Housework receipts? You think court’s some farmer’s market where you haggle over chores?”
Angela shifts awkwardly beside him, trapped between wanting to flee and not daring to move.
She studies her coffee cup like it holds the secrets of the universe.
[ ignore his mockery and calmly turn to page two.
‘You’re right-basic housework logs won’t fly in court alone. That’s why I needed leverage. Something to make this abor legally valuable.”
slide over that agreement from his parents’ visit, tapping the clause he added in his own handwriting.
‘Right here.”
‘During this visit service period, any cash or material rewards that Jessica Blake receives from Party A’s parents for quality service shall be considered personal compensation for her individual labor and remain her sole property.”
meet his suddenly sharp gaze with a smile.
‘Derek, you personally acknowledged that my ‘household services’ have commercial value and deserve ‘cash compensation.’ You transformed traditional marital duties into a quantifiable, payable business contract. This
agreement is the crack in your armor.”
Derek’s Adam’s apple bobs.
16:10
I’m on the Operating Table and You Venmo-Request HALF?! Die Mad, Bro!
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Chapter 6
His lawyer instincts are screaming danger.
“That was a one-time thing for my parents’ visit! It doesn’t set precedent!” he snaps back.
“Doesn’t it?”
I flip to the next page-screenshots from the video I “accidentally” recorded when his mom gave me that envelope.
Clear as day, she’s saying: “Jessica, this is our way of thanking you for two weeks of ‘hard work’-it’s your ‘payment,’ and you must take it.”
Next page shows my text exchange with his mother.
Me: “Mom, Derek says this money counts as a ‘reward’ for my work. Is that right?”
Her: “Absolutely! You earned every penny taking such good care of us!”
Watching Derek’s face darken, I continue my methodical breakdown:
‘Your parents, acting as your authorized representatives, explicitly confirmed this payment was ‘compensation’ and ‘reward’ for my ‘work.’
That creates an unbroken chain of evidence proving that in our marriage, my domestic labor transcended basic spousal duties and entered paid service territory.”
‘And you, as a professional family law attorney, personally drafted and signed this agreement. Legally, that constitutes your complete endorsement of this ‘paid service’ model. Using this precedent, I’m seeking compensation for three years of ‘premium’ and ‘above-baseline’ labor that exceeded our original agreement. Completely reasonable, justified, and legal.”
Dead silence fills the dining room after my words.
Angela’s mouth hangs open.
She’s looking at me like I just performed magic-shock mixed with something like admiration.
Derek stares at me like a caged animal.
He never imagined his precious legal expertise, every rule he used to control me, would become weapons pointed traight back at him.
push the final stack of documents across the table.
‘This is my salary calculation for three years of service, based on market rates for premium housekeepers, nannies, nutritionists, and household managers in this city. I also referenced the ‘Domestic Labor Valuation Report’ you submitted in Williams v. Williams-remember that case?”
‘Total: $268,000.”
16:10
I’m on the Operating Table and You Venmo-Request HALF?! Die Mad, Bro!
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Chapter 6
“Minus what you’ve already paid, you owe me $212,000 in back wages. This house is worth about $400,000-your pre-marital asset. Per our agreement, it should stay yours. But you can transfer it to settle your debt to me. I’ll even pay you the difference.”
I stand up, looking down at him.
‘My terms are simple. I get the house, we get divorced. Otherwise, I’ll see you in court.”
Then I grab my purse and walk out.
Leaving Derek sitting there white as a sheet, staring at those documents like they’re his own death sentence.
16:30
I’m on the Operating Table and You Venmo-Remmiest HALF21 Die Mad Bro!
