Chapter 9 - The Mistress Turns on Her Trophy Husband
Judge Holloway did not hesitate for a single second.
"The court finds the uncontested divorce decree entered on the twelfth of last month to be tainted by fraud in the inducement and material perjury," Judge Holloway declared, slamming her palm onto the bench. "The decree is hereby vacated in part. The Oakridge Crest property is declared the sole and exclusive commercial property of Aegis Strategic Assets LLC under the primary lien deed. Mr. Julian Sterling is ordered to vacate the premises within forty-eight hours under sheriff supervision."
A sharp, audible gasp erupted from the gallery. Vanessa stood up, knocking her designer handbag off her lap, her face pale with utter fury.
"Furthermore," Judge Holloway continued, ignoring the disruption, "the court orders an immediate judicial audit of all accounts transferred under the fraudulent petition. Mr. Sterling will pay the petitioner's legal fees in the amount of thirty-five thousand dollars, along with a fifteen-thousand-dollar sanction for abuse of judicial process. Case referred to the state bar for review of Mr. Perkins' filings. Court is adjourned."
The sound of the gavel hitting the wooden block felt like the final thud of an executioner's blade.
As soon as the judge stepped down into her chambers, the courtroom exploded into absolute chaos.
"Forty-eight hours?!" Julian screamed, grabbing his lawyer by the lapels. "Perkins, you said this was a standard motion! You said she'd settle for fifty grand to make it go away!"
"Get your hands off me, Julian!" Perkins hissed, violently shoving his client away. "You lied to me! You told me the LLC was a dummy corporation! You committed perjury on three signed affidavits! I'm lucky if I don't lose my law license because of your stupidity!"
Before Julian could turn around, Vanessa stormed down the center aisle of the courtroom, pushing through the swinging wooden gate. Her sunglasses were off, revealing eyes filled with unadulterated venom.
"You pathetic, lying loser!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, uncaring of the courthouse bailiffs moving toward her. "You took me from my apartment, promised me a four-bedroom estate, promised me a life of luxury, and you don't even own the shirt on your back!"
"Vanessa, please, listen to me—" Julian pleaded, reaching out to grab her wrist.
SLAP!
The sound of Vanessa’s hand striking Julian’s face echoed through the entire courtroom like a gunshot. Julian stumbled backward, clutching his stinging cheek, his mouth hanging open in utter shock.
"Don't you ever touch me again!" Vanessa shrieked. "My father was right about you! You're nothing but a fraud! I'm filing for an immediate annulment on grounds of gross fraud and misrepresentation! And I'm keeping the diamond ring!"
"That ring is on my credit card!" Julian yelled in a cracked, pathetic voice. "It's thirty thousand dollars on my card!"
"Then you better start working the night shift to pay it off, you broke piece of trash!" she spat, before spinning on her heel and marching out of the courtroom, her heels clicking aggressively against the marble floors.
Julian collapsed back into his chair, his head buried in his hands, weeping uncontrollably.
I stood up, smoothed down the front of my navy blazer, and walked past his table toward the double exit doors. As I passed him, Julian looked up through his tear-stained fingers, his face blotchy, red, and utterly broken.
"Elena..." he whispered, his voice trembling with a pathetic, desperate plea. "Please... you have so much money. You make one hundred and thirty thousand a year... you have the trust... you have everything. Why did you have to destroy me?"
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I stopped and looked down at him. For four years, this man had made me feel small, invisible, and worthless. He had left me in a hospital gown when I needed him most, convinced that I was nothing without his permission.
"I didn't destroy you, Julian," I said with absolute peace in my voice. "I just stopped paying for your lies."
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