The gallery behind her rustled with reporters and observers, their whispered conversations a low hum. She didn't turn to look at them. She didn't need to see their faces to know what they were thinking: the billionaire CEO and her very public divorce, finally reaching its conclusion after months of headlines and speculation.
Gerald shifted beside her, adjusting his tie. “Whatever happens,” he said quietly, “we made the strongest possible case.”
Astoria nodded without answering. Her attention had snagged on the gallery door the moment it opened.
Miller slipped inside, moving to a seat in the back row. She wore a simple black suit, and her hair was pulled back in a tight knot. Her face was neutral, but when her eyes found Astoria's across the room, something passed between them.
Monday had changed things when Miller sat at that witness stand and testified for her. Even though she’d been subpoenaed, she’d still taken a professional risk speaking the truth so openly and honestly. And the way Miller had looked at her afterward…
Astoria had replayed that moment more times than she wanted to admit.
She looked away first, returning her gaze to the empty bench. The bailiff stood near the side door, checking his watch. Any minute now.
At the respondent's table, Valerie sat perfectly still beside Rachel. Her posture was immaculate and her expression serene, ever playing the wounded wife waiting for justice. But Astoria knew her too well to be fooled. She could see the tension in Valerie's shoulders and the way her fingers pressed together beneath the table. Valerie was worried. She should be.
“All rise.”
The bailiff's voice cut through the fervent conversations, and the courtroom stood in unison. Judge Whitcombe entered through the side door, her hair and wire-rimmed glasses unchanged from every other appearance, her expression revealing nothing. She took her seat at the bench and surveyed the room with the brisk efficiency Astoria had come to expect.
“Be seated.” Judge Whitcombe opened the folder in front of her and studied it for a moment that stretched into several. “We are here for the ruling in the matter of Shepry versus Shepry-Dane, case number 24-CV-0847.”
Astoria’s pulse thudded in her ears. Beside her, Gerald sat perfectly still.
“I have reviewed all testimony and evidence presented by both parties,” the judge continued. “I have considered the arguments of counsel and the applicable law. I am now prepared to issue my ruling.”
Judge Whitcombe looked up, her gaze sweeping across both tables.
“The central question before this court has been the division of assets accumulated during the marriage, with particular attention to the respondent's claim to equity in Shepry Global Holdings.” Her voice was measured and unhurried. “Having reviewed the evidence, I find the following:”
Astoria held her breath so long her lungs started burning.
“First, Shepry Global Holdings was founded by the petitioner three years prior to the marriage, using capital she accumulated independently. The company's foundational growth occurred before the marital partnership began.”
Gerald’s hand moved slightly on the table, a small gesture of acknowledgement.
“Second, the respondent's contributions to Shepry Global were primarily social in nature. While valuable in certain contexts, they do not rise to the level of material contribution that would justify an equity stake in the company itself.”
Across the aisle, Valerie's composure wavered. Her jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
“Third, this court finds credible the evidence presented regarding patterns of manipulation and misrepresentation by the respondent. The claims regarding the petitioner's alleged instability are unsubstantiated by any credible evidence and are hereby stricken from the record.”
The words landed in Astoria's chest like something unlocking. She’d spent so long hearing how impossible, difficult, and broken she was, and now a judge was putting it in writing that Valerie's version wasn't true.
“Therefore,” Judge Whitcombe continued, “this court orders the following: The respondent shall receive a settlement of marital assets consistent with her documented contributions to the household and marriage, totaling three point two milliondollars. The petitioner shall retain full ownership and control of Shepry Global Holdings. All claims to equity in the company are denied.”
Three point two million was a fraction of what Valerie had demanded, much less what she no doubt felt that she was entitled to.
“Furthermore, both parties having agreed to waive all rights to appeal as part of the settlement framework, this matter is concluded. Court is adjourned.”
The gavel came down with a crack that echoed through the room.
For a moment, Astoria couldn't move. The judge’s words kept ringing in her head, and she realized her hands were shaking slightly against the table.
Gerald’s hand closed over her forearm, warm and steady. “We did it,” he said quietly.
Astoria managed a small nod. Her throat felt dry and scratchy.
She let herself look at Valerie then—really look. Her ex-wife's face had gone pale, her serene mask shattered into something ugly and furious. She was whispering rapidly to Rachel, her hands cutting sharp gestures through the air, but Rachel's expression was resigned.
