Chapter 9 - THE CLEAN SWEEP
Two months later.
The high-court divorce proceedings took less than fifteen minutes.
Because of the overwhelming evidence of attempted fraud, extortion, and criminal conspiracy, the judge granted a complete, unconditional annulment. Adrian Vale received nothing—not a single dollar of alimony, no claim to real estate, and no right to use the Vance name or associations.
I sat on the plaintiff's side of the courtroom, flanked by Sarah Jenkins.
Across the room sat Adrian. He looked ten years older. His suit was wrinkled, bought from a thrift store; his posture was completely crushed. He didn't look up at me once during the entire proceeding.
When the judge brought the gavel down with a sharp clack, declaring the marriage null and void, Adrian finally raised his head. His eyes were hollow, filled with a mixture of profound regret and quiet humiliation.
He walked over to me slowly as the courtroom cleared out.
“Maya...” he whispered.
“Mr. Vale,” I replied formally, standing up and buttoning my tailored blazer.
“My mother was sentenced to twelve years this morning,” Adrian said, his voice barely audible. “Grand arson attempt, extortion, conspiracy. She... she won't survive twelve years in prison.”
“She should have thought about that before she lit the flare,” I said coldly.
“I lost everything, Maya,” Adrian choked out, tears pooling in his eyes. “My family is broke. I’m working double shifts at a rental car agency just to pay for my mother’s public defender. I have no friends left. Everyone in the city shuns me.”
I looked at the man I had once thought I would spend the rest of my life with. There was no hatred left in my heart for him—only profound indifference.
“You didn't lose everything because of me, Adrian,” I said gently. “You lost everything because you lacked character. You thought being a man meant letting your family crush your wife so you could inherit wealth you didn't earn. You were a coward when you stood silent at that table, and you were a coward when you tried to scam me in my own bed.”
Adrian wiped a tear from his cheek, bowing his head in total defeat. “I’m sorry, Maya. I really am.”
“I know,” I said softly. “And that’s the saddest part. You’ll spend the rest of your life being sorry.”
I turned and walked out of the courtroom, leaving him standing alone in the empty aisle.
Outside, the sun was shining brightly over the marble steps of the courthouse. The air was crisp, clean, and full of fresh possibilities.
Marcus stood by the open door of my sleek, pristine sedan.
“Where to now, Miss Vance?” he asked warmly.
May you like
I stepped into the car, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders that had been crushing me for months.
“To the office, Marcus,” I smiled, looking out at the endless horizon of the city. “I have an empire to run.”
