Chapter 2
The moment I saw Daniel staring at that document, I understood something.
He wasn't surprised that I was angry.
He was terrified that I knew.
Lauren grabbed his sleeve.
"Daniel, what is going on?"
He swallowed.
"Nothing."
"Nothing? Your wife is the judge!"
I raised my hand.
"Counsel, please approach."
Both attorneys stood immediately.
Daniel's lawyer, Charles Reed, looked as though he wanted to disappear.
Across the aisle, attorney Rebecca Collins closed her notebook and approached the bench.
I lowered my voice.
"This matter involves my husband and an alleged signature bearing my name."
Rebecca nodded.
"Yes, Your Honor."
"I only became aware of that conflict when the case was placed on my calendar. I cannot preside over the merits."
Charles exhaled.
For a moment, he looked relieved.
Daniel did too.
But I wasn't finished.
"I will refer the matter for immediate reassignment. The parties should preserve all records and await instructions from the reassigned court."
Rebecca nodded.
"Understood."
I looked at Charles.
"Mr. Reed, does your client understand the importance of preserving relevant documents?"
Charles hesitated.
"He does, Your Honor."
Daniel stared at the table.
I noticed his hand moving toward the file.
"Mr. Bennett."
His head snapped up.
"Yes?"
"Please direct any questions through your attorney."
He nodded quickly.
I returned my attention to counsel.
"The record will reflect my disclosure and recusal."
The hearing ended before it began.
Not because Daniel had escaped responsibility.
Because justice required someone without my personal connection to decide the case.
I stood.
The bailiff called for everyone to rise.
Then I walked out.
Behind me, Lauren's voice rose.
"You told me she worked here!"
Daniel whispered something I couldn't hear.
Lauren continued.
"You didn't tell me she was a judge!"
I kept walking.
In my chambers, I removed my robe and sat down.
My hands were shaking.
I hadn't expected them to.
For sixteen years, Daniel had been my husband.
For months, he had been my greatest disappointment.
Now his name appeared on a document containing what looked like a forged signature.
And I couldn't stop wondering how far his lies had gone.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
Allison entered.
"Judge Bennett, the court administrator has been notified."
"Thank you."
"Security also has the hallway footage."
I nodded.
"They'll need my statement."
"Would you like some water?"
"Please."
She placed a glass beside me.
Then she hesitated.
"Victoria, may I say something?"
I looked up.
Allison rarely used my first name at work.
"Of course."
"You don't have to pretend you're unaffected."
I smiled sadly.
"I know."
She glanced at my injured lip.
"That woman had no right to touch you."
"No," I whispered. "She didn't."
For the first time that morning, I let myself feel the humiliation.
Not because Lauren had slapped me.
Because Daniel had watched.
He hadn't defended me.
He hadn't even asked whether I was hurt.
The man who once promised to stand beside me through every hardship had become a stranger.
And I was finally beginning to accept it.
That afternoon, I met my divorce attorney, Margaret Ellis.
Margaret was sixty-one, sharp-minded, and impossible to intimidate.
She had been handling my separation since I discovered Daniel's affair.
When I told her about the courtroom, she set down her pen.
"Victoria, you recused yourself?"
"Immediately."
"Good."
"There's something else."
I slid a copy of the ownership declaration across her desk.
Margaret studied it.
Her expression changed.
"Is this your signature?"
"No."
"Are you absolutely certain?"
"Margaret, I have never signed that document."
She looked at the company name.
"Bennett Capital Holdings."
I nodded.
"Daniel told me that company was dissolved years ago."
Margaret turned the page.
"According to this filing, it owns several commercial properties."
My stomach tightened.
"How many?"
"At least four."
I leaned forward.
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
"Daniel told me he lost everything after his first business failed."
Margaret studied me.
"Did you ever see the final accounting?"
"No."
"Did you review the dissolution documents?"
"No."
"Why not?"
I looked down.
"Because he was my husband."
The words sounded painfully foolish.
Margaret's expression softened.
"Trusting your spouse isn't foolish, Victoria."
I swallowed.
"But allowing someone to control every detail of shared finances without reviewing them can create problems."
I nodded.
"I know that now."
She continued examining the documents.
Then she stopped.
"Victoria."
"What?"
"According to this filing, you transferred your ownership interest to Daniel three years ago."
I stared at her.
"What ownership interest?"
Margaret looked up.
"Twenty-five percent of Bennett Capital Holdings."
My heart slammed against my ribs.
"I never owned twenty-five percent of that company."
"Apparently, the records claim you did."
I shook my head.
"Daniel never told me."
Margaret pointed at a line near the bottom.
"And this document claims you surrendered that interest voluntarily."
I felt cold.
"With my forged signature?"
"That's what we need to investigate."
I stood and walked toward the window.
For years, Daniel had complained about money.
He said we needed to cut expenses.
He said the mortgage was difficult.
He said his business wasn't profitable.
Meanwhile, I had paid most of our household bills.
I had postponed vacations.
I had refinanced my personal investment property to help him.
And now I was learning that he might have been hiding valuable assets.
Margaret spoke gently.
"Victoria, I want you to prepare yourself."
"For what?"
"If these records are accurate, the affair may be the smallest part of what Daniel has concealed."
I turned toward her.
"Then find out everything."
She nodded.
"I will."
That evening, Daniel appeared at my front door.
I saw him through the security camera.
He looked exhausted.
"Victoria, please open up."
I remained inside.
He rang again.
"Can we talk?"
I pressed the intercom.
"Speak through your attorney."
He looked directly at the camera.
"This is our marriage."
"Our marriage is already in divorce proceedings."
He rubbed his forehead.
"You don't understand what happened today."
"Then explain it to Margaret."
His expression hardened.
"She doesn't need to know everything."
I felt my stomach twist.
"What exactly are you hiding, Daniel?"
He looked away.
May you like
Then he whispered something that made my blood run cold.
"Lauren wasn't supposed to find out about the properties."
