Anguish turned to anger, fueling her resolve. “I won’t let you take everything from me, Mark. This isn’t over,” she declared, her eyes blazing with determination.

“Do whatever you need to do,” he said with a dismissive wave. “I’ve already spoken to my lawyer. The assets will be divided fairly.”

“Fairly?!” she nearly shouted, incredulity dripping from her words. “You know how much I sacrificed for this, for us.”

Mark stood up, his silhouette cutting a stark contrast against the fading light. “We’ll see what the courts have to say,” he tossed over his shoulder as he walked inside, leaving Kate alone with her thoughts and the fading twilight.