I wanted what I had done to define me."

“It was a very, very long process” the mother of four told Elle.

“It took around eight years before I actually walked out the door.”

Julia Haart smiling, red carpet

Haart began building her escape fund by secretly selling life insurance, unbeknownst to her ex-husband.

And just because Haart is getting older doesn’t mean she has any plans to slow down.

“Forty-three years of my life have been stolen from me.

Julia Haart posing at event

I don’t have time.”