He Chose My Best Friend, Now He Wants Me Back Chapter 09

He Chose My Best Friend, Now He Wants Me Back Chapter 09

He went to see a lawyer.

Divorcing Sloane was the only thing he could do that felt like moving forward. In the sterile conference room, Ben looked at the mountain of paperwork and said, “There’s one more thing. I want to transfer part of my assets… to Mara Ellis. As compensation.”

The lawyer pushed his glasses up his nose. “Mr. Kline, until your divorce from Sloane Mercer-Kline is finalized, all your assets are considered community property. You have no legal right to unilaterally gift a large sum to a third party.”

The words “third party” pierced him like a needle. He wanted to argue, but he was speechless.

Eight years of love, the youth she had given him—and in the eyes of the law, Mara was nothing. The woman he had betrayed her with was his legal wife, the one whose assets had to be settled first.

The lawyer seemed to notice his stunned silence. “Also, regarding the joint account you shared with Ms. Ellis, I’ve spoken with her legal counsel.”

Ben’s head snapped up, a flicker of hope in his eyes. “What did she say?”

“Her position is firm.” The lawyer consulted his notes. “She is only requesting the legally mandated division of the funds you used without her consent. And her lawyer asked me a question.”

“What question?” Ben’s heart tightened.

The lawyer repeated it calmly. “He asked, ‘In what capacity does your client intend to discuss compensation with my client?’”

The question echoed in the quiet room. Ben’s face flushed hot, as if he’d been stripped naked in public. Every excuse he’d prepared sounded pathetic.

He looked at his lawyer, his voice a hoarse plea. “So… how should I answer?”

The lawyer stated the irrefutable fact. “Legally, she has no relationship with you. You can’t even be considered her ex-boyfriend, since your relationship ended under the ambiguous title of fiancé.”

Ben’s breath hitched. “But she was my fiancée for eight years!” he growled, losing his composure.

The lawyer’s expression didn’t change.

“Sir,” he replied evenly, “fiancée is not a legal identity.”