Noella Bergener says ex James is trying to ‘torture’ with stalled divorce

Noella Bergener tells Web page Six in an unique new interview that her estranged husband and companion of 5 years, James Bergener, is attempting to “torture” her by stalling their divorce. 

“There’s so much in divorce that’s about management and micro-managing and sort of desirous to torture the ex,” the “Actual Housewives of Orange County” star, 36, instructed us. “There’s just a little little bit of that at play occurring right here.”

Noella — who shares 2-year-old son James Jr. together with her ex — went on to specific hope that James, 50, will quickly attain “a contented place the place he doesn’t really feel like he wants to take a look at the previous and take into consideration controlling me.”

“RHOC” viewers have watched the Bravo beginner’s authorized battle unfold onscreen. In the beginning of filming, James fled their Orange County mansion for the couple’s residence in Puerto Rico.

It wasn’t lengthy earlier than the non-public damage lawyer — recognized throughout Southern California as “Candy James” — “blindsided” Noella with divorce papers from the Caribbean, written in Spanish, covertly served to her in a pseudo-floral supply.  

“It was really surreal,” she remembers. “I couldn’t consider this was occurring to me. I needed to decide myself up, although, and by the grace of God we ended up making a little bit of progress, determining settlement particulars collectively.” 

Noella — who mentioned she and James ironed out an settlement in September — revealed that her partner has since ceased his communications, indefinitely delaying the authorized course of. 

“It’s very irritating,” she says, claiming that James is demanding extra custody of their little boy, who’s autistic and requires in depth remedy in Orange County. 

“A person who lives in Puerto Rico is asking for 50/50 custody of our 2-year-old son who he’s not seen for six months and who requires … hours of remedy for his autism,” mentioned the mother of two, who additionally mother and father daughter Coco, 7, from a earlier marriage. 

“We go one step ahead and 10 steps backwards.”

Within the wake of their break up, James allegedly minimize off Noella’s entry to their funds, save for a bank card that may solely buy necessities by way of Amazon and groceries from Instacart. As soon as her settlement lastly arrives, Noella — who has mentioned she is “squatting” in her 10,000 square-foot house — feels assured that she’s going to be capable to present a very good life for her household. 

“I discovered a home that I might transfer our baby to,” she mentioned. “I might downsize, I might be in command of my very own funds and we are able to simply be finished with this … Sadly, it doesn’t appear to be there’s any finish in sight any time quickly.”

Within the meantime, Noella is taking steps to realize monetary independence on her personal. Benefiting from her actuality TV notoriety, she is quietly engaged on the launch of a model known as Playland. Although the sex-dungeon fanatic has but to element its perform and companies, she has teased the enterprise venture as a spot “the place adults come to play.”

“I actually do assume there was one thing in [James] that thought as soon as he left, that I might disintegrate and that I might not be capable to go on and I might simply run after him or hand over on this chance [to appear on ‘RHOC’] as a result of I’d be too embarrassed to be sincere about what’s occurring,” she mentioned. 

Noella — who made historical past as the primary black and brazenly bisexual lady to be forged on “Orange County” — mentioned that she was emboldened by her co-stars and new mates, Shannon Beador and Gina Kirschenheiter, to talk brazenly about her experiences on digital camera as her story might assist others navigating related challenges. 

“One thing I’ve realized by this course of is as shameful as this was, it’ wasn’t my disgrace. That’s his disgrace,” the mannequin asserted, who additionally known as James “cowardly” for allegedly selecting to not go to his son within the six months since they’ve separated. 

“I’m not embarrassed to speak about my divorce. I’m not embarrassed to speak about our points as a result of I’ve finished nothing fallacious and most girls on this place shouldn’t be feeling that disgrace or embarrassment.” 

Noella famous that her function on “RHOC” turned her saving grace as she navigated the early says — and “crippling” devastation — of James’ sudden departure. 

“In some ways, the present actually helped. It helped me get away from bed. It helped me understand that, ‘Rattling it, I’m value love and I’m value higher than this. And there’s different girls who’re going by this too and that is silly,’” she mentioned.

Together with her calls and texts to James unanswered, Noella mentioned that she feels her “solely line of protection” is talking to the press. 

“I must speed up it… The reality is the reality,” she acknowledged. “He left. He says he desires a divorce. I desire a divorce. We’ve agreed on all of the onerous elements of the divorce. Let’s be divorced. Let’s do that. It doesn’t make sense. I really need it and if you happen to really need it too, then let’s finalize this.” 

James’ authorized group didn’t instantly reply to Web page Six’s request for remark, however he claimed in a Jan. 5 assertion to Us Weekly, “A decide in Puerto Rico, the place I’m a resident, has already granted our divorce. Finally, Noella is the mom of my baby, and I can’t publicly disparage her.”

As Noella waits for her marriage to be dissolved in California, she is reveling in her new romance with a thriller man — whose identify she gained’t reveal over privateness issues — she knew all through her relationship with James.

Nevertheless, Noella instructed Web page Six that he’s a “good man” and “a breath of recent air” from the “poisonous” relationship dynamic she had change into accustomed to. 

“I’m dumb with love proper now!” she enthused. “We’ve recognized one another for years, solely as mates, however we hit the bottom working on this one. As quickly as James was gone, he was like, ‘How are you doing? How are the youngsters?’ He was doing these checkups and snuck on in there.” 

Noella additional gushed, “He simply makes me joyful. He’s introduced a lot pleasure to my life. He simply helps me. If I’ve an issue, he’s obtained an answer.” 

“The Actual Housewives of Orange County” airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo. 

This submit first appeared on Nypost.com