Stella lowered her head, trying to hide her face, but it was too late. Gabe had already spotted her. A mocking smile appeared on Gab’s lips as he saw his wife sitting in the corner of the waiting area. Gabe changed direction, walking towards Stella with a disdainful look. Music, ready to launch his first verbal assault to crush Stella’s morale before the hearing even began.
Gabe didn’t notice at all the presence of the scruffy looking old man sitting silently like a statue beside Stella, observing his every move like an eagle eyeing its prey. The sun was getting higher, but the temperature in the courthouse lobby felt icy to Stella.
Gabe stood right in front of her, his posture exuding an arrogance that seemed to fill the room. The scent of Gab’s expensive cologne, which irritated the nose, now made Stella’s stomach turn, reminding her of the stranger standing before her, no longer the husband she once knew. Standing beside Gabe was another equally dapper man. He clutched a leather briefcase with a smug look, occasionally adjusting his expensive glasses while glancing at Stella with contempt.
“Well, well,” Gabe began, his tone sarcastic and sharp. His voice was deliberately loud, causing people nearby to turn and look. “You finally showed up. Music? I thought you’d be crying in the bathroom all day, too scared to face me.”
Stella took a deep breath, trying to straighten her back, which felt frail. She remembered Mr. Kesler’s words from earlier. Don’t look music weak. I came because it’s a legal obligation, Gabe. I’m respecting the court summons, Stella replied softly but clearly.
Gabe snorted. A short, painful laugh escaped his lips. Respecting the law. Oh, listen to you. Get a grip, Stella. Look at your wrinkled, disheveled appearance. How did you even get here? Did you take a CTA bus? Or maybe you walked to get some pity points. You smell like road dust.
Stella’s face flushed. The shame music spread to her ears. Gabe knew her weak spots all too well. Music. I took the bus. Gabe, Stella answered honestly.
The bus. Gabe repeated the word with disgust as if Stella had just confessed to eating garbage. He turned to the man beside him. Did you hear that, Leo? The wife of a senior associate at a prestigious law firm rides the city bus. How embarrassing. Good thing that status is about to end. I can’t imagine if my VIP clients knew my wife squeezed in with the lower class, sweating all over them.
The man named Leo nodded in agreement, a smirk playing on his lips. She’s in a different league, Gabe. Your decision is the right one. A woman like this would only be a stain on our firm’s top tier image.
Stella’s blood boiled with rage. They were talking about her as if she were an inanimate object without ears or feelings. Being humiliated in public by her own husband and a stranger was truly painful. “Let me introduce you, Stella. This is Leo,” Gabe said, gesturing to his colleague with his thumb, showing no respect for Stella. “He’s my colleague, a top law school graduate, and he’ll be the attorney making sure you walk out of this hearing with nothing but the old clothes on your back.
So, my advice is instead of being embarrassed in there by Leo’s legal arguments that your small town brain won’t understand, you should just give up now. Gabe snapped his fingers sharply. Leo pulled a thick blue folder from his briefcase and shoved it roughly into Stella’s chest, forcing her to take it.
Sign this now, Gabe ordered coldly. His eyes were hard, full of intimidation. This is a statement waving all claims to marital assets. The house, the car, the land. It’s all in my name because I made the payments. You were just freeloading. Sign it and I’ll give you $5,000 as charity. Enough for you to go back to your hometown and open a food stall.
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