Apocalypse Survivor

Chapter 9 The Tables Turn

The courtroom doors opened, and Claire walked in with her family. She carried herself with absolute confidence.

As far as she was concerned, the outcome had already been decided.

Ethan had money and she was his former wife so she was entitled to half.

Her face was full of excitement. If the court believed he had deliberately hidden his wealth, she expected to walk away with even more.

Claire's lawyer was already waiting.

He was a polished middle-aged man from one of the city's most respected firms, Berne & Sterling LLP, a law firm famous for handling high-profile corporate and family disputes.

He stood as Claire approached but the moment his eyes moved past her, his expression changed.

He saw the defendant Ethan and more importantly, he had seen the people sitting beside him. His legal team!

The firm's senior partner leaned toward him and whispered.

“That's them.”

The lawyer frowned. “Who?”

“Hayes Law firm!" His face stiffened. “They're representing him?”

The senior partner nodded. “They're one of the best law firms in the country.”

The lawyer's confidence suddenly disappeared. He turned to look at Ethan again.

Three lawyers sat beside him. All impeccably dressed and all completely calm.

Claire noticed their exchange. “What is it?” she whispered.

Her lawyer looked at her. “Who exactly did you say we were dealing with?”

Claire frowned. “Ethan.”

“Yes, I know his name.” The lawyer lowered his voice. “You told me he was a sailor with limited assets.”

“He was.” She rolled her eyes. "I don't want to dive into it."

Hearing this her lawyer instead looked more troubled.

“Are you absolutely certain everything you told us about his finances was accurate?”

Claire's expression hardened. “Of course it was.”

The lawyer didn't look convinced.

Claire leaned closer. “But the judge should still rule in my favor, right?”

“I thought you said the assets were acquired during the marriage.”

“They were.”

“And you're entitled to fifty percent?”

“Yes.”

Her lawyer exhaled slowly.

“If everything you've told us is correct, then yes, we have a strong claim.”

Claire smiled. “Then don't worry.”

Her eyes moved toward Ethan. “We have him by the balls.”

"Look do you job and you get the percentage. You don't have to worry."

The lawyer didn't smile. He wasn't nearly as confident anymore but still, he gathered his documents.

The court clerk called for everyone to settle down.

The judge entered. “Everyone rise.”

The courtroom stood and the judge took his seat.

“Be seated.” Everyone sat.

Claire glanced toward Ethan. He was sitting calmly beside his lawyers.

No nervousness or even a hint of concern. instead he even looked bored.

She scoffed. "He's pretending." She was certain of it.

Her lawyer rose first.

“Your Honor, my client, Claire, has reason to believe that the defendant deliberately concealed substantial financial assets during their marital separation.”

He walked toward the evidence table.

“The defendant's sudden acquisition of wealth immediately surrounding the divorce proceedings raises serious questions regarding whether those assets should have been disclosed and divided.”

He placed several documents before the judge.

“We respectfully ask this court to investigate these assets and, where appropriate, award my client her rightful share.”

Claire smiled.

Her lawyer returned to his seat.

Then Ethan's side stood. A woman stepped forward.

She was young, strikingly beautiful, and impeccably dressed in a dark professional suit. Her appearance was elegant, but there was something intimidating about the calmness in her eyes.

She had been sitting beside a middle-aged man who occupied the second seat in Ethan's row.

The woman walked toward the evidence table.

“I'll be brief, Your Honor.”

Claire's smile remained.

She'll be brief because there's nothing they can say.

The lawyer picked up a document.

“The opposing counsel has alleged that Mr. Ethan concealed assets acquired during the marriage.”

She paused.

“We investigated the financial records surrounding the alleged assets.”

She placed another document before the judge.

“Specifically, we examined the investment that generated the defendant's current wealth.”

Claire's smile weakened.

The lawyer continued.

“We obtained the official transaction records, including the exact timestamp at which Mr. Ethan entered the investment.”

She held up the document.

“This is the evidence.”

The courtroom became quiet.

“The defendant entered this position after the divorce proceedings had already begun.”

Claire blinked.

The lawyer continued. “The investment subsequently increased dramatically in value.”

She turned toward the judge.

“Therefore, the claim that Mr. Ethan acquired this wealth during the marriage is factually incorrect.”

Copies of the documents were handed to the judge.

Another set was delivered to Claire's lawyers.

Claire grabbed the papers.

Her eyes moved across the transaction dates.

Then stopped.

Her face went blank. “No…”

Her lawyer leaned over. Claire pushed the document toward him.

“Look.” He read it and his expression slowly changed. The timestamp was undeniable.

The investment had been made after the divorce proceedings.

There was no hidden marital asset. No secret transfer or concealed fortune. Claire's fingers tightened around the papers.

What rotten luck. She looked toward Ethan.

He was sitting there completely relaxed and wasn't't even watching her.

Claire's heart pounded. How?

How had he managed to make so much money after the divorce?

She had expected him to struggle.

She had expected him to regret giving up everything.

Instead, he had somehow become richer.

The judge reviewed the evidence carefully.

After several minutes, he looked up.

“Based on the evidence presented, the allegation that the defendant concealed these particular assets during the marital proceedings is unsupported.”

Claire's heart sank.

The judge continued.

“Therefore, regarding these assets, the defendant is found—”

“Your Honor.”

The young female lawyer calmly interrupted.

The judge looked at her.

“You said there was more?”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

Claire's head snapped toward her.

The lawyer turned slightly.

“We have found something else.”

She picked up another folder.

“Something concerning my client's former wife.”

Claire's blood ran cold.

The lawyer's voice remained calm.

“Our investigation indicates that Miss Claire was significantly wealthier than she disclosed at the time of the divorce.”

The courtroom went silent.

Claire stared at her.

For the first time that morning, the smug expression completely disappeared from her face.

Her lawyer slowly turned toward her.

“Claire…”

She didn't answer.

The female lawyer placed the folder on the evidence table.

“We have financial records, business valuations, and transaction histories that suggest Miss Claire concealed assets of her own.”

Claire's face turned pale.

The woman looked directly at her.

“And the value of her business at the time of the divorce was substantially higher than what she reported.”

Claire's mouth opened.

Nothing came out but she looked at Ethan. He was finally looking at her and he was smiling.

And she had brought her own evidence with her.