He closed his eyes for a second, took a deep breath, and didn''t speak again until the tension in the room felt almost unbearable. "Okay," he finally said.


    The judge looked between them, clearly picking up on the animosity hanging thick in the air, and gave a polite cough. "Since the two parties are unable to reach an agreement, we''ll move forward with the hearing."


    Reese''s lips curled into a faint, almost defiant smile as she grabbed her files and walked straight out the door. She didn''t look back. Didn''t even spare a nce at Sebastian. The man she once imagined growing old with was about to be just another chapter in her past. He wouldn''t have any control over her life ever again.


    Inside the courtroom, Reese sat at the intiff''s table, her back perfectly straight, flipping through her statement onest time and keeping her hands steady.


    Across from her, Sebastian sat stiffly in the defendant''s seat. His ck suit made his face look even more severe, and his fingers kept fidgeting with the wedding ring on his left hand, spinning it absentmindedly.


    Every so often, Sebastian''s gaze drifted over to Reese. There was a storm behind his eyes,plicated and raw. He was still reeling from what had happened in the mediation room.


    "Ms. Reese, you''re petitioning for divorce from Mr. Sebastian and giving up custody of your child, Robbie, on the grounds of irreconcble differences," the judge announced from the bench, his voice echoing through the microphone. "Please present your evidence."


    Reese looked at her attorney, George. He gave her a reassuring nod before standing. "Your Honor, please review the evidence we''ve previously submitted- screenshots of trending news and security footage relevant to the case.


    "My client has been married to the defendant for seven years. In all that time, their marriage was never made public. Sebastian was rarely home, and not long ago, rumors about him and another woman began circting. He repeatedly allowed this woman to harass and even physically harm my client.


    "These facts make it clear. The defendant never treated my client as his wife. This marriage has been over for a long time.


    "So we are requesting a divorce. And since my client is the injured party, we believe she deserves proper financialpensation."


    While George spoke, the clerkid out the evidence. The judge flipped through it


    all, then signaled for the documents to be passed to Sebastian.


    "Do you acknowledge this evidence?" the judge asked.


    Photos of Sebastian with Sofia sshed across gossip sites, ugly onlinements aimed at Reese and security footage of Sofia locking Reese inside ab-everything was right there. Ashton felt sweat bead on his back. No wonder Mrs. Ratcliff wanted out. If he were in her shoes, he''d run too.


    "I don''t ept any of this," Sebastian said, his voice cool as he shot Ashton a quick look. Ashton scrambled to respond. "Your Honor, my cleat is the chairman of Ratcliff Global. He''s rarely at home because his job keeps him traveling constantly.


    "The woman in those photos was an employee at Ratcliff Global. They attended events together for work, which led to silly misunderstandings.


    "After she hurt Mrs. Ratcliff, my client fired her."


    "Then why didn''t you call the police?" Reese''s voice was steady, but there was steel in it. “Sofia nearly killed me. If you had the evidence, why didn''t you report her?"


    Ashton wiped his brow, looking desperately at Sebastian.


    Sebastian''s eyes softened as he stared at Reese, his voice quieter. "Reese, I


    know I''ve been busy, but I''ve always tried to do right by you.


    "I didn''t call the police because I knew nothing woulde of it. She could''ve just imed it was an ident. So I fired her and cut off all ties with the Meyer family. That was her punishment


    "And if I didn''t care about you, why would I have helped Ramos Corporation all these years? Why would I have helped your uncle''s family get into Bridger Lake''s elite circle?"


    As he finished, Ashton handed over documents showing all the projects and business deals the Ramos family had gotten thanks to the Ratcliffs.


    The judge reviewed the stack and nodded. "Ms. Reese, do you acknowledge this?"