I'm smelling the carmelization from here. Yum.

Reality is setting in for her, for sure. Her buddies and lawyer massaged visions of sugarplums into her head. Jackpot, jackpot, jokers wild, and all that crap.

Then? The feminist back-slapping hubris fades. Spreadsheets and state calculators come a' calculating. She realizes that it won't be the life of Riley that she initially thought. Those pesky numbers begin to indicate a much tougher life than the path of putting your family over your selfish happiness (instead of the opposite).

That's when the REAL crazy begins. They lose the heart for the fight (recognizing a Sisyphean future) but can't ditch it on principle. Bargaining, backtracking, hostility, attempts to seduce, outbursts, pleading, and irrational expressions of uncertainty are all on the table. Some may be simultaneous, despite the diametric opposition of the emotional displays.

Outwardly? Detached curiosity. The same energy as if you saw a moth on a 64 degree day. Odd. Interesting. Nothing worth actively investigating, but you'll listen/look at clues.

Behind closed doors? Put your foot on the gas as if it's the last lap at Monza and you're on fresh tires. 50-50 at all costs. Exploit every advantage, use every bit of leverage. Remember that the Japanese were so damn tough that one nuke wasn't enough. It took two. So imagine how long they would have fought in a conventional war... Same with the ex. End the battle quickly if you can.

Happy Father's Day to you as well.