Aurelia’s faint smile disappeared.She turned toward her lawyer, who leaned closer and whispered that they would need to examine the evidence before deciding how best to respond. His reassurance did little to calm her.The judge regarded Alexander’s lawyer thoughtfully. “What kind of evidence are you referring to?”“Video recordings and photographs, Your Honour. We respectfully request permission to present them.”After a brief consideration, the judge granted the request.A court clerk moved toward the television display at the front of the courtroom and connected the relevant files. Several people shifted in their seats, their curiosity growing as the screen flickered to life.Aurelia watched with apprehension.At first, she told herself that there was nothing to fear. She had attended public events with Nahir, visited restaurants with him, and participated in business meetings. None of those activities, taken individually, proved that she had betrayed her husband.She had no reason

Alexander did not accuse Aurelia of being a terrible wife or demand that the judge condemn her. He simply described what had happened, leaving the evidence to speak for itself.That restraint made the testimony more difficult for Aurelia to dismiss.She remembered Alexander waiting for her on evenings when she had promised to return early. She remembered his unanswered calls and the meals he had prepared before discovering that she would not be coming home on time.For years, she had considered those incidents insignificant compared with the pressures of running her company.Now she could no longer ignore what they revealed about the distance between them.The judge instructed Alexander to sit down and turned back toward his lawyer. “Proceed with the remaining evidence.”The lawyer clicked to the next set of images.Photographs appeared one after another, showing Aurelia and Nahir together on different occasions. Some had been taken at restaurants, others at public events and business

The photographs remained displayed on the courtroom screen, each one presenting another piece of a story Aurelia had never imagined she would have to defend before a judge.She sat motionless beside her lawyer, her phone resting in her hands as though the device had suddenly become too heavy to hold.Only moments earlier, she had been searching desperately for a photograph that could demonstrate the affection she shared with Alexander. Now, she could barely bring herself to look at the images of herself and Nahir.The judge examined the evidence again before lifting his gaze toward her. His expression had grown noticeably stern, and the silence that followed made Aurelia increasingly uncomfortable.“The file before this court states that you have been married for three years,” he began. “Yet when asked to produce even a single photograph demonstrating comparable affection between yourself and your husband, you were unable to provide one. Meanwhile, there are numerous photographs of yo

Aurelia had prepared herself for Alexander to become angry. She had expected accusations, harsh words, and perhaps another confrontation in which she could insist that he had misunderstood her intentions.Instead, he had allowed the evidence to speak while remaining almost entirely detached from the woman he had once called his wife.She remembered the early days of their marriage, when Alexander had tried to make their home comfortable despite the dismissive treatment he received from members of her family.He had prepared meals, taken care of household responsibilities, and quietly supported her ambitions.When Aurelia Cosmetics needed help, he had stood beside her. He had contributed financially, offered ideas, and helped her navigate the company's early challenges. Even after the business began expanding, he had continued to place her needs ahead of his own.She had accepted those sacrifices as though they were simply part of his responsibilities as her husband.Now, when the cour

Even while Nahir tried to reassure her, Alexander did not appear concerned about whether she believed the testimony or whether she might turn to him for help. His attention remained on the proceedings and the decision he had come to secure.She felt an unfamiliar fear rise inside her.What if Alexander truly no longer cared what she did?What if the evidence that had once been capable of provoking an argument now meant nothing more to him than another reason to complete the divorce?She had spent years assuming she could always explain herself later. Now, when she desperately wanted the opportunity to speak with him, she could not even bring herself to stand up and approach his table.The certainty in his posture frightened her because it left her with nothing to negotiate against.After reviewing the file for another moment, the judge finally closed the document before him.“Given the evidence presented and the questions that remain unanswered, the court will take a short recess,” he