The courtroom doors opened with a heavy sound. Footsteps approached. A man in a navy suit walked down the aisle carrying a leather briefcase. Gray touched his temples. His presence commanded silence.
Rebecca caught her breath.
Harold Sloan walked past Eric without looking at him. Milton Graves went pale. Even the judge looked surprised.
Harold reached Rebecca’s table, kissed her forehead, then turned to the bench.
“Your Honor. Harold Sloan. Counsel for the defendant.”
Silence fell. Eric’s smile disappeared.
Six months earlier Rebecca had believed in perfect Thursdays. Thursdays meant Eric would be in a good mood. She would cook salmon and set candles. That night she did everything right. Eric walked past her, said he was not hungry, and locked himself in the bedroom with his phone. When she checked the screen, she found messages from a contact named Tiffany Accounts.
She photographed everything with shaking hands. When Eric emerged from the shower, she confronted him.
“Who is Tiffany.”
He froze. Then deflected. Then admitted the affair.
“I want a divorce,” Rebecca said.
Eric nodded like he was approving a business deal. “Yes. That is for the best.”
He left that night. No apology. No regret.
Rebecca cried, then made lists of assets, bank accounts, property. She learned heartbreak had a schedule. She cried for fifteen minutes each morning, then went to work helping students with their own problems. At night she researched divorce law.
Dana called daily. “Eat something. Sleep. And when this is over, we burn his ties.”
Rebecca met with a small town attorney named Judith Klein. Judith reviewed the assets.
“If he hires a major firm they will bury you in paperwork,” Judith warned. “You could represent yourself.”
Rebecca decided she would. She prepared for six months in silence. She did not tell her father. She did not want him to see her failure.
Back in the present courtroom, Harold Sloan whispered to Rebecca. “You prepared well. We will be fine.”
Judge Marlow cleared her throat. “Now that both parties have counsel, we proceed.”
Harold stood. “Before opening statements, I request to introduce additional evidence related to concealed marital assets.”
Milton Graves jumped up. “This is improper without notice.”
“The evidence was legally obtained,” Harold said calmly. “We can provide copies immediately.”
Judge Marlow considered. “What kind of evidence.”
