“Order in the court,” Judge Rowan commanded, though his voice was thick with emotion. Marcus stood taller, his confidence seemingly unshaken, while Elara kept her smug expression. The judge leaned forward, his eyes locked onto mine. “Bailiff,” he said, his voice dropping into a low, dangerous register. “Lock the doors.”
The heavy wood doors slammed shut with a resounding thud, cutting off the noise from the corridor like a guillotine. The tension in the room became thick enough to touch. Marcus’s confident facade began to crack for the first time. “Your Honor,” he started smoothly, “we are here for a simple divorce. My wife is clearly overwhelmed by her emotions—it’s the hormones, as you can clearly see.”
Judge Rowan’s eyes snapped to him, cold and lethal. “Do not dare to comment on her physical state.”
Elara let out an audible groan. “Can we just get on with this? She’s clearly trying to play the victim card.”
The judge’s voice was like steel. “Ms. Quinn, did you just physically assault Mrs. Vale in my presence?”
“She was in my way,” Elara said, tilting her chin up defiantly.
“That is not what I asked.” The judge turned his attention to the court reporter. “Let the record show that the respondent has visible bruising and bleeding on her face.”
Marcus tried to intervene. “Your Honor—”
“Silence.” Judge Rowan raised a hand. “Bailiff, come forward.”
The officer moved into position. “Mrs. Vale,” the judge said with a strained professional tone, “are you asking this court for a protective order?”
My heart was racing so fast I thought it might fail. I felt a surge of terror—fear of what Marcus would do later, fear of being ignored. But then the baby moved, a sharp kick that gave me the strength to realize that I couldn’t be quiet anymore. “Yes,” I whispered, then cleared my throat to speak louder. “Yes, Your Honor. He has threatened me repeatedly. He has taken complete control of my money. He told me I would suffer if I fought him.”
Marcus scoffed loudly. “This is completely ridiculous.”
Judge Rowan ignored him. “Are you currently safe in your residence, Mrs. Vale?”
“No,” I replied, my voice finally breaking. “He took my keys and changed the locks. He cut off my bank cards. I’ve been sleeping wherever I can find a place to stay.”
Elara let out a small laugh. “So dramatic.”