Chapter 31

Layla sat in bed, staring at the phone in her hand. She had just hung up with her mother, who had given her some adviceon what to ask for in the divorce settlement with Mike. The conversation had left Layla feeling both relieved and anxious at the same time.

She decided to get up and make herself a cup of coffee before Mike came home. As she was sippingher coffee, she began to think about what her next move should be. Should she wait for Mike to bring up the subject of the settlement or should she take the initiative and bring it up herself?

After some contemplation, Layla decided that she needed to take control of the situation. She couldn't wait for Mike to make the first move. She needed to assert herself and communicate clearly what she wanted from the settlement.

She called Mike and asked him to meet her at a coffee shop down the street. When they arrived, they found a quiet table in a corner and sat down together.

"Layla, what's going on?" Mike asked as soon as they sat down. "W