011

Sophie

Realization weighed on me as my eyes remained fixated on the clock.

The ticking sound clicked in my head as the hands of the clock moved.

The court date had arrived, and time was getting closer and closer.

I sighed, my gaze shifting to the papers on the table.

My vision blurred in seconds, and it took a few blinks to steady them again. I hadn’t slept. I wasn’t sure if it was anxiety that kept my eyes as wide as possible.

It had to be, after all; my entire marriage was ending today.

I tried to remember who I was before Hayes.

I had my own career and was somewhat renowned in my field but now I was in the shadow of Hayes. He kept me a secret, and I did nothing but let him. I was so sure that all I wanted was to fulfill my duties as a wife that I pushed away my own desires.

Maybe just maybe the reason I had held tightly onto this marriage this long was that I wanted to feel chosen. My father had divorced and remarried. I didn’t want that for myself, but I guess it was inevitable.

I did miss who I was before him.

I pushed myself to my feet and made my way to my dresser. I pulled open the drawer and took out my makeup kit. I took out brush after brush and applied foundation, then eyeshadow. Step after step, I covered the exhaustion that wore on my face. I couldn’t let Hayes see me like this.

Couldn't let him see that I was dying. He'd seem it a stunt of mine to get his attention.

I had to be strong.

I kept my expression as plain as ever. From the moment I left the apartment till I arrived at the courthouse.

I scoffed.

The driver pulled the door open, and I stepped down.

It felt surreal.

I released a breath when I got into the courthouse but sucked it back in when reporters rushed towards me.

How did they know? Had Hayes leaked the marriage? Why now? Was this some sort of plan?

I was blinded, flash after flash but I kept moving, letting the memory guide me to the front door.

Finally, I arrived in the room where Hayes, Olivia, and the attorneys were. Hayes sat in the middle of Olivia and his attorney, while my attorney sat opposite them with an empty seat next to her.

I walked further into the room with my head held high.

Olivia had an amused expression. She attempted to reach for Hayes but he pushed her arm off.

I shook my head slightly before looking away.

It was a bit funny that he wasn't swayed by her at this moment.

I headed towards my seat and sat next to my attorney. I turned to them once more. Hayes looked almost amused, like he had already won.

His lips lifted into a smirk.

“Your honor, let’s stop wasting everyone’s time,” My attorney said. “The respondent is attempting to withhold nearly eighty percent of the marital estate and separate estates as well. My client has been with Mr. Hayes for a long time and took care of him. They’ve shared difficult times, so compensation should be provided.”

“Objection. The company and assets existed years before the marriage. Its success cannot simply be attributed to your client simply because she is married to my client. Your offer is unacceptable,” Hayes’s attorney retorted.

My attorney stood and stepped forward. “No one is claiming ownership of the company prior to the marriage, your honor. We are arguing that marital contributions increased its value. My client sacrificed her own career, managed the household, and did what was needed to be done to support your client's business expansion”.

“The law does not reward someone for being a spouse,” Hayes’s attorney countered. “My client worked hard to get to where he did, and your client neither held a position within the company nor contributed to its capital”.

Murmur swept through the courtroom while the attorneys returned to their seats.

“My client is offering her one of his properties, a vehicle, and fifteen million dollars. Most people would consider that generous,” Hayes’s attorney said.

“Most people weren’t married to a man worth nearly a billion”.

“Most people aren’t here right now”.

My lawyer slid a folder across the table. “We must not disregard what she has been through with him for the sake of being generous. Do not forget that they bore a child together”.

Hayes’s lawyer pushed himself to his feet. “Your client is too ill to raise a child.”

He picked up a file and walked towards the judge.

He handed it to the judge before turning to the jury.

“We can all agree that a child needs their mother, but when said mother is physically unable to take care of a child, do we leave the child to support? We have to use logic here.” His attorney argued.

“What happens when Mrs. Sophie becomes too ill to do regular tasks? Would the child be left to take care of himself and still provide assistance to his mother? We cannot let a young child experience such difficulties. We do not wish for this, but what happens when Mrs. Sophie is gone, the child would have to bear the brunt and the trauma”.

The room became painfully quiet.

“His grades and extracurriculars would be changed to hospital visits. Football games would turn to counting pills and listening to large words even adults have not heard before. Excuse my language, but Mrs. Sophie may not live long enough to take care of Noah.”

I gulped.

My gaze shifted to the judge. His eyebrows twitched upward and created faint wrinkles on his forehead as he tried to keep his composure. He

I could feel the eyes of Hayes on me, waiting, watching.

He expected tears and probably begging.

I wasn’t going to give him that.

I took in a breath then released it. I straightened my posture.

“I don’t want custody”.