I Walked Away And He Lost His Mind (Zephyra) novel Chapter 107

“He won’t consent?” Calvin whistled. “You can always file for a contested divorce. But wait, don’t tell me *you’re* the one getting a divorce?”

We had been good friends before I got married, and he was one of the few people who knew about it. He had warned me not to rush into the "tomb of marriage," especially without any real love to build on. He’d said it would end in disaster.

He was right. In my past life, it was worse than a disaster; it was a catastrophe.

I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Just answer the question. Tell me how to file, and I need a guaranteed win.”

There was a pause on the other end. “Typically, in a contested divorce, the court will first try to mediate. If that fails, they’ll rule based on the evidence presented by both sides to determine if the marriage has irretrievably broken down. If it has, and mediation is impossible, they’ll grant the divorce.”

“To determine if the marriage has broken down, they look at the foundation of the marriage, the post-marital relationship, the reasons for divorce…”

“Okay, stop, stop,” I cut him off. I couldn't stand the cold, clinical language. “Don’t recite legal statutes to me. Just tell me in plain English: what guarantees a win for the plaintiff?”

“You’re still so impatient. I finally get a chance to show off and you cut me off,” Calvin grumbled before simplifying. “Basically, if the husband has cheated, has a drug problem, is abusive, is a bigamist, or has a serious gambling addiction, you’ve pretty much got it in the bag.”

I bit my lip. “What counts as cheating? Does financially supporting another woman count?”

“That depends on the nature of the support. If there’s no sexual element, no affair, and he’s not keeping her as a mistress—just helping her with tuition or something—then no, that doesn’t count. In fact, he’d probably get an award for being a great guy.”

“…”

Honestly, aside from his toxic family and his lack of commitment to our relationship, Steven and I weren't that different in our core values. But that didn’t matter. We were getting divorced, one way or another.

I switched the phone to my other hand, my patience wearing thin. “Never mind my reasons. I just want to know how I can get a divorce when he won’t agree and there are no official faults.”

Calvin’s tone shifted. “There is one other way. You could prove the marriage has broken down due to separation for two years. But you haven't even been married that long, have you? Does your husband live at home?”

“…Yes.” As cold as Steven was, he loved my cooking. He rarely stayed away from home.

***