Chapter 9 - Lucas’s divorce lawyer tells the truth
Lucas had consulted a divorce attorney six weeks before I discovered the affair.
Attorney:
James Porter.
James could not reveal privileged advice voluntarily.
But Lucas later waived limited privilege on certain communications because he relied on “advice of counsel” to explain his recording behavior.
That opened a narrow door.
His lawyer’s contemporaneous written summary, eventually produced under court rulings, said:
Client concerned spouse may react emotionally if affair disclosed. Advised not to provoke confrontation, not to involve children, and not to create staged evidence. Document genuine incidents only.
There.
James had specifically warned him.
Why?
Lucas asked:
“If she becomes aggressive in front of the kids, does that matter for custody?”
General answer:
Yes, genuine domestic violence/safety incidents can matter.
Then:
“What if Valerie is present?”
James wrote:
Strongly advised against introducing affair partner into marital home or children’s presence during separation conflict.
Clear.
Then Lucas’s notes after consultation.
He wrote:
House possession matters.
Temporary parenting pattern can become practical status quo.
Keep company operating.
Need documentation if Mara unstable.
Do not let her empty accounts.
Settlement before formal valuation if possible.
Not illegal.
Strategic.
Then one handwritten line:
If she explodes in front of kids, she loses leverage.
His.
Not lawyer’s.
That frightened me.
Then texts to Valerie four days before attack.
Lucas:
She found the invoices.
Valerie:
I told you this was coming.
Lucas:
She thinks you stole money.
Valerie:
Your wife can ask me herself.
Lucas:
Come Thursday.
Valerie:
With the kids there? No.
Lucas:
Yes.
Valerie:
Why?
No response for eight minutes.
Then:
Because I’m done letting her act perfect around everyone.
Valerie:
This sounds like a terrible idea.
Lucas:
She’ll show you who she is.
There.
Valerie had warned him.
Then still came.
That did not excuse her.
But the plan increasingly belonged to Lucas.
The missing piece was what happened immediately before she entered.
May you like
The old phone had it.
So did Lucas’s texts.
