Chapter 3 - The Deposition
The morning of the hearing, the sky over Manhattan was the color of bruised iron.
I wore a tailored crimson power suit. It was the exact shade of a warning sign. When I walked into the courthouse with Leo holding my hand, the paparazzi flashes were blinding. Julian’s PR team had tipped them off, hoping to capture me looking like a defeated, discarded housewife.
Instead, I walked past them with my head held high, looking like a queen walking to an execution.
Inside the courtroom, Julian and Elena were already seated at the petitioner's table. Julian wore a custom Tom Ford suit, looking incredibly smug. Elena sat directly behind him in the gallery, wearing a white dress that looked suspiciously bridal.
When Julian saw Leo, he rolled his eyes and whispered something to his high-priced lawyer, who let out a sleazy chuckle.
"All rise," the bailiff announced.
Judge Barrett, a no-nonsense woman with thirty years on the bench, took her seat and slammed her gavel. "Be seated. We are here for the dissolution of marriage between Julian Thorne and Clara Thorne, and the division of marital assets."
Julian’s lawyer stood up immediately. "Your Honor, my client has made an incredibly generous offer of $300 million to expedite this process. We have submitted the valuation of Thorne Innovations, which clearly shows the company is currently operating at a net loss. Mrs. Thorne is trying to extort my client out of spite."
Judge Barrett peered over her glasses at me. "Mrs. Thorne? Why haven't you signed the settlement?"
I stood up slowly. "Because, Your Honor, the financial documents my husband submitted to this court are entirely forged."
Julian laughed out loud. "She's delusional! I had three independent accounting firms verify those documents!"
"Your Honor," I said calmly. "May my son approach the projector?"
May you like
Julian sneered. "Are you kidding me? You're bringing your broken kid into this? He can barely tie his own shoes, Clara!"
Judge Barrett slammed her gavel so hard the wood echoed. "One more outburst like that, Mr. Thorne, and I will hold you in contempt. Mrs. Thorne, proceed."
