Part 3

Ryan shot to his feet. “You can’t do that!”

The judge’s voice sharpened instantly. “I can, and I just did.”

Ryan’s attorney whispered urgently beside him, but Ryan shook him off violently. His face had turned bright red now, the carefully polished mask finally gone.

“She’s turning my daughter against me,” he snapped. “She’s always hated my mother. She wanted my money, my house, my family name—”

“I wanted a husband,” I said quietly.

The courtroom went silent again.

I turned toward him, my cheek still stinging, my heartbeat pounding so loudly I could hear it in my ears.

“I wanted you to come home when Lily had a fever. I wanted you to stop letting your mother call me trash inside my own kitchen. I wanted you to tell the truth just once.”

Ryan opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

Judge Whitaker looked at him with a disappointment heavier than anger.

“Mr. Harper,” he said, “based on the evidence presented today, this court is ordering a forensic review of all transferred marital assets. Until that review is completed, every business account connected to this matter will be frozen.”

Ryan’s face collapsed completely.

Ms. Coleman touched my arm beneath the table, silently reminding me to stay calm.