Chapter 6 - The Courtroom Floor
Three months later, the Denver courthouse felt cold and sterile, a stark contrast to the burning anger that had brought us all there.
I sat next to Diane at the petitioner's table, wearing a sharp navy suit and an expression of utter calm.
Across the aisle sat Lucas.
He looked terrible.
He had lost weight, his suit hung loosely on his frame, and the arrogant spark in his eyes had been completely extinguished.
He had been forced to borrow money from his elderly parents just to hire a second-rate attorney, a man who looked like he’d rather be anywhere else.
The judge, a stern woman with zero tolerance for nonsense, banged her gavel.
"Mr. Walker," the judge began, looking over her glasses at Lucas. "Your counsel is actually trying to argue that you are entitled to fifty percent of the petitioner's inheritance?"
Lucas's lawyer stood up, clearing his throat nervously.
"Your Honor, the funds were co-mingled in a joint account for a period of six months. Under standard marital asset protocols—"
"Save it, Counselor," the judge interrupted sharply.
She held up the thick binder Diane had submitted.
"I have read the financial forensics report. I have read the emails. I have seen the fake Swiss employment contract your client drafted to deceive his wife."
Lucas shrank down in his chair.
"This is not a case of simple co-mingling," the judge continued, her voice echoing loudly in the silent room. "This is a documented case of premeditated financial manipulation. Mr. Walker moved these funds with the explicit intent of abandoning his spouse and fleeing the jurisdiction to fund a lifestyle with another woman."
She turned her sharp gaze directly onto Lucas.
"You are incredibly lucky, Mr. Walker, that your wife's attorney is only pursuing this in civil divorce court, because a motivated district attorney could likely build a wire fraud case out of this."
Lucas swallowed hard, staring at the table.
"The $720,000 remains the sole property of Elena Walker," the judge ruled, banging the gavel again.
I let out a slow, steady breath.
It was officially over.
The money was safe forever.
"Furthermore," the judge continued, "given the fraudulent circumstances of the separation, the petitioner is granted full ownership of the primary residence in Denver. Mr. Walker, you are responsible for your own legal fees, and any debts incurred in the state of California."
Lucas's lawyer leaned over and whispered something to him.
Lucas put his face in his hands.
As court adjourned, I stood up and gathered my things.
Lucas approached my table slowly, ignoring his lawyer's attempts to pull him away.
"Elena," he said, his voice cracking.
I looked at him.
I didn't see the charismatic man I had married.
I just saw a pathetic, broken liar.
"I have nothing," he whispered, tears welling in his eyes. "Melanie left me. My company fired me when they found out about the fake sabbatical. I'm living in my parents' basement."
He was looking for sympathy.
He was hoping that the woman who used to cry when he left for the airport would somehow reappear and save him.
I looked him dead in the eye.
May you like
"You should have gone to Zurich, Lucas," I said quietly.
I turned on my heel and walked out of the courtroom, leaving him completely behind.
