My relationship with my ex ended in a courtroom. I wont cast blamewhen it comes to a relationships end, both people share responsibility.
The reality, though, is that my second wife started seeing someone else. Her new lover is a well-off businessman who moved to our town many years ago and eventually opened a cosy little café in the high street. At first, she tried to keep her affair secret, but before long, she wasnt even bothering to hide it.
Eventually, she came to me and bluntly told me she was filing for divorce and planned to sue me for half our house. I think she hoped Id panic or get angry. But the fact is, I purchased that house entirely with my own hard-earned money. My ex didnt contribute a penny, other than living there for two years. Now she had the nerve to try and claim a share.
I stayed calm. I didnt try to talk her out of going to court. I simply waited for the whole affair to play out, fully expecting the case to be thrown out and for her to be lumped with the court costs. Id already had a difficult experience with my first wifethe legal proceedings dragged on for over three years, all because we couldnt come to an agreement. Every court hearing ended with an argument.
Still, my first wife had her day. With the help of a sharp solicitor, she claimed half my assets, including a flat Id inherited from my father. She left me with nothing.
But with my second wife, I handled things more wisely. Long before marriage, Id already bought a flat with my own money, spending countless weekends and evenings fixing it up. Yet, I had it registered under my brothers namehes the only person I trust without question. So, when divorce came round again, there wasnt anything for my ex to lay claim to. After my first failed marriage, I vowed never to let myself be taken advantage of like that again.
What Ive learned is that trust and prudence must go hand in hand. Lifes tough lessons teach us to be careful with our hearts and our homes, and thats how we grow wiser with time.
