I signed everything for my husband in the divorce — without him knowing the bombshell he had just agreed to…

The license to use the LogiPath route optimization system, patent number 4471-B, registered in the name of Elena Vargas de Montoya. According to the contract signed eighteen months ago, this license is automatically suspended in the event of the dissolution of the marriage, unless otherwise expressly agreed by both parties.

The silence in the room lasted exactly four seconds.

“Without that system,” Carmen continued calmly, “the company’s market value drops by approximately 80%. The three investment funds with active bids for the company have due diligence clauses that explicitly reference the patent. If the license is suspended, the bids fall through.”

It was the first time in a long time that we really looked at each other.

“You can keep everything you asked for,” I said. “Or we can negotiate something reasonable. It’s your choice.”

Fuentes whispered something in his ear. Rodrigo listened with his jaw clenched and his eyes fixed on the table.

The ensuing negotiation lasted two hours. In the end, Rodrigo kept the house and an apartment. I kept the other two, received fair financial compensation, retained custody of Valentina, and kept full rights to my patent.

When we left the courthouse, Carmen walked silently beside me for half a block.

“When did you find out?” he finally asked.

The fact that?

That you were going to do this. From the beginning, from that first call you made.

I thought about that March night, on the edge of the bed, during the three hours I spent staring at the ceiling.