My former wife sought to claim half the house, but she hadnt reckoned with my foresight. Our marriage ended in a courtroom, and though Ill not say who was right or wrongfor in any marriage, both share the blamethe truth was plain.
My second wife had taken a lover, a wealthy businessman whod settled long ago in our quiet corner of England and opened a modest tea shop in our town. At first, she concealed the affair, but soon they made no effort to hide it. Then came the day she confronted me, declaring she would file for divorce and sue for half our home. She expected panic, but the house had been bought with my honest earnings alone. She had no claim to it, save for having lived there two short yearsyet there she stood, bold as brass, demanding her share.
I met her words with calm. I did not dissuade her from court, for I knew she would lose and pay the fees besides. Id learned my lesson from my first wife. That case had dragged on three bitter years, every hearing ending in uproar, until at last she wona clever solicitor saw to that. She took half my inheritance, the very house my father left me.
But with my second wife, Id been wiser. Before the wedding, Id already owned a home, though Id placed it in my brothers namea man I trusted without question. By the time divorce loomed, I appeared to own nothing. After my first marriage, no woman would ever deceive me again.
