The Divorce Chapter 15 (Chapter 17): The Lawyer Trap – Summary & Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Naomi Roth arrives at the office of Stefanie Gorman, a highly recommended divorce attorney recommended by her friend Cora. The waiting room is opulent, and Naomi is nervous but hopeful. She meets Stefanie, who seems competent and sympathetic. However, Stefanie immediately reveals that she cannot represent Naomi because Jeremy Roth has already retained her services. Naomi is shocked; she thought Jeremy’s lawyer was Leonard Hardwick. Stefanie explains that her husband has also retained a second top lawyer, Carrie Moynihan, to prevent Naomi from hiring any of the best local attorneys. Jeremy has essentially cornered the market on top divorce lawyers in the area. Stefanie calls Carrie to confirm, and it is true. Naomi feels desperate, especially since Jeremy emptied their bank accounts. Stefanie, calling Jeremy a “shithead,” suggests a different lawyer: Ezra Fletcher. She scribbles a corrected phone number on his slightly bent business card. Ezra is described as a jack-of-all-trades, not exclusively a divorce attorney. Stefanie promises to call him personally and explain Naomi’s financial situation. Naomi is grateful for Stefanie’s kindness and support, vowing to take Jeremy “to the cleaners.”

Key Events

Naomi meets with divorce attorney Stefanie Gorman, who initially appears willing to take her case.
Stefanie discloses that Jeremy Roth has already retained her services, creating a conflict of interest.
Jeremy has also retained Carrie Moynihan, another top local divorce lawyer, effectively blocking Naomi from using the best attorneys.
Jeremy’s strategy is exposed: he hired multiple lawyers to deprive Naomi of competent legal representation.
Stefanie recommends Ezra Fletcher, a general-practice lawyer with an outdated business card, as a potential attorney.
Naomi reveals that Jeremy emptied their joint bank accounts, leaving her with limited funds.
Stefanie offers to call Ezra personally and advocate for Naomi despite not being able to represent her.

Character Development

Naomi Roth: This chapter shows Naomi moving from cautious hope to shock and desperation. She is initially impressed by Stefanie’s professionalism, but the revelation of Jeremy’s legal blockade crushes her optimism. Her vulnerability deepens as she realizes the extent of Jeremy’s manipulation—not only did he trick her into moving out and drain their accounts, but he is now actively sabotaging her ability to fight back. Despite this, she shows resilience by accepting Stefanie’s alternative recommendation.

Stefanie Gorman: Although present only in this chapter, Stefanie emerges as a key ally. She is sharp, ethical (refusing to take Naomi’s case due to conflict), and unexpectedly kind. Her admiration for Naomi’s situation and her willingness to go out of her way to help—calling another lawyer, correcting the business card—demonstrates solidarity. She openly calls Jeremy a “shithead,” aligning herself with Naomi.

Jeremy Roth (off-page): His character is further developed through his absence. The preemptive hiring of multiple top divorce lawyers reveals a calculating, ruthless side. He is not just unfaithful; he is actively working to ensure Naomi cannot obtain competent legal representation, reinforcing his controlling nature. This behavior contrasts sharply with his earlier advice to Naomi to get a good lawyer, suggesting duplicity.

Ezra Fletcher (mentioned): Introduced only by name and a slightly disorganized business card, Ezra is positioned as an unconventional but potentially effective lawyer. His “jack-of-all-trades” label hints at resourcefulness, and his availability despite Jeremy’s sweep suggests he operates outside the mainstream network.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Power and Control: Jeremy’s tactic of retaining multiple eminent divorce lawyers is a blatant exercise of power. By monopolizing “all the best local divorce lawyers,” he attempts to control the legal battlefield, leaving Naomi isolated and disadvantaged. This motif of control extends from financial (emptying accounts) to legal (sabotaging representation).

Manipulation and Deception: Jeremy’s earlier suggestion that Naomi find a good lawyer is now revealed as a hollow gesture. The contradiction between his words and actions underscores his manipulative nature. Naomi’s realization that “it’s got to be Veronica who is behind this” suggests a third party’s influence, but the chapter points squarely at Jeremy’s own agency.

Solidarity Among Women: Stefanie Gorman’s behavior embodies the theme of women supporting women. She cannot take the case but goes out of her way to help Naomi, offering an alternative, correcting the phone number, and providing emotional support. Her line “we women need to stick together” is a clear statement of this motif.

The Symbol of the Business Card: Ezra Fletcher’s slightly bent business card with a wrong number symbolizes imperfection and untidiness, contrasting with the polished, high-end world of Stefanie Gorman. Yet Stefanie’s trust in him implies that surface disorganization does not reflect competence. The card becomes a symbol of an unconventional path forward.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 15 is a critical turning point in Naomi’s legal battle. It exposes the depth of Jeremy’s premeditated strategy to strip her of every advantage. The reader sees that the divorce is not just about infidelity but about a power struggle where Jeremy is willing to use financial and professional resources to crush Naomi. This chapter raises the stakes, making clear that Naomi cannot win without extraordinary help. The introduction of Ezra Fletcher as an unexpected savior sets up a new plot thread, and Stefanie Gorman’s brief but impactful role reinforces that Naomi does not have to fight entirely alone. The chapter also deepens the reader’s sympathy for Naomi and contempt for Jeremy.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Stefanie Gorman refuse to represent Naomi, and what does this reveal about Jeremy’s strategy?
Stefanie refuses because Jeremy has already retained her services, creating a conflict of interest. This reveals that Jeremy has deliberately hired multiple top divorce lawyers in the area to prevent Naomi from accessing competent legal representation. It shows his calculated, ruthless approach to the divorce.
What does Naomi’s reaction to the news about the lawyer blockade tell us about her state of mind?
Naomi is shocked, desperate, and feels “the rug has been pulled out from under me again.” She struggles to reconcile this action with the Jeremy she thought she knew. Her admission that she is “a little low on funds” because Jeremy emptied the accounts underscores her vulnerability and growing anxiety about her ability to fight back.
How does Stefanie Gorman help Naomi despite not being able to take her case?
Stefanie recommends a different lawyer—Ezra Fletcher—corrects his phone number, and offers to call him personally to explain Naomi’s financial situation. She also expresses emotional support, calling Jeremy a “shithead” and encouraging Naomi to take him “to the cleaners.” This help is crucial because it gives Naomi a potential advocate when she had none.