Chapter 5
My lawyer, Marcus Hale, stood up calmly.
“Your Honor, we would like to present additional evidence at this time.”
He played the recording.
Julian’s voice filled the courtroom, clear and arrogant.
“Once the baby is born, we’ll push for full custody. Iris is too emotional. She won’t be able to handle raising a kid alone. We’ll say she’s unstable. Postpartum depression or something. My mother will back us up in court.”
Nora’s voice came through next, slightly muffled but still recognizable.
“What if she fights back?”
Julian laughed.
“She won’t. She has no money. No real support system. We’ll drag it out in court until she runs out of money and gives up. She always gives up eventually.”
The recording ended.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Julian looked like someone had punched him in the stomach. Nora had gone completely pale, her hands gripping the edge of the table.
The judge stared at both of them with open disgust.
“Mr. Vance,” she said coldly, “do you have anything to say in your defense?”
Julian opened his mouth, but no words came out.
I looked at the man I had once loved and felt nothing but cold, clear understanding.
For years, I had been terrified of him. I had walked on eggshells in my own home. I had made myself small and quiet, believing that if I just tried harder, maybe he would finally love me the way I deserved.
But standing in that courtroom, watching him fall apart in front of everyone, I finally understood the truth.
Julian Vance had never been powerful.
May you like
He had only ever been cruel.
And now, the entire world could see it.
