Julian was paralyzed. His confident smirk had vanished, replaced by the pale, clammy sheen of sheer terror. He looked at Mr. Sterling, pleading silently for a lifeline, but his expensive lawyer was staring at the table, actively scooting his chair a few inches away from his own client.
"Your Honor," Julian stammered, his voice cracking. "That... that is completely taken out of context. I was... we were playing a game. A theatrical game. It's not what it looks like."
Judge Thorne didn't yell. She didn't raise her voice. She spoke with a quiet, lethal calm that sent shivers down my spine.
"Mr. Vance. You have exactly one warning to remain entirely silent before I have you arrested for witness tampering, child abuse, and terroristic threats right here in this room." She turned her gaze to the child advocate. "Take Maya to the playroom outside. She does not need to be present for what is about to happen."
As the heavy doors closed behind my brave little girl, I stood up. The time for being the silent, submissive wife was over. I opened the thick leather briefcase I had brought with me.