Josh you should be proud! You stood up to the bully!
Her actions didn’t constitute validation they constituted boundaries.
She’ll never admit it but I bet she respected you for the first time in a long time. That’s why it’s making you feel so uncomfortable. You are use to kissing her arse.
I can not make it any clearer you can’t push her away she’s already long gone. Everything is what’s best for Josh and kids.