Page 262 of The Wright Man

"These," Andre said, "are messages about Ms. Reed. Sent to friends. To Jasmine. To other parties. About her weight. Her body. Her grief. Comments about her miscarriages. About her, and I'm quoting directly, 'delusion that therapy would fix her broken uterus.'"

That one stung. Not because it was news. But because it had once been the loudest whisper in my head.

But all it took was one look from Maleek to silence it.

Andre didn't stop. "And finally, the kicker."

He set the last page down — quiet, final, the way you'd set down a weapon after the fight was already over.

"The worst ones," Andre said, "were the messages from the very beginning of the marriage. Sabotaging condoms. Tampering with her birth control. About breaking her. Humbling her. Putting her in her place."

He let the words hang there. Heavy. Awful. Final.

The room was silent.

I didn't flinch. Didn't cry. Didn't break.

This man was already dead to me.

Andre let the silence ring like a bell. Then he spoke.

"If we go to trial," he said, voice sharp, "all of this becomes public record. And Mr. Riddle won't just lose in court. He'll face criminal charges—reproductive coercion, domestic abuse, workplace misconduct. Possibly even assault. If it were up to me, you'd rot."

He turned to me briefly. "But Ms. Reed is still offering you mercy."

He slid a single-page document across the table.

"This is our counteroffer. It is generous. It is final. You should be grateful that Ms. Reed is the woman she is—because you clearly never deserved her."

I sat there, arms crossed, spine straight, chin high. Unbothered and unbotherable.

Andre looked Gavin dead in the eye, gaze sharp and empty.

"I suggest you take it."

* * *

The courthouse doors felt lighter when I pushed them open this time.

No panic clinging to my skin. No tightness in my chest. Just clear, open air and the sun warm against my face like it knew exactly what kind of day I was about to have.

And there he was.

Leaning against a parking meter like he had all the time in the world, arms folded, smile easy. My man. My person. My peace.

Maleek Wright.

His smile widened the second he saw me. And I swear, my feet didn't even touch the steps on the way down. I flew into his arms like I'd been running full speed my whole damn life and only now figured out where I was headed.

He caught me effortlessly, like he always did, spinning me in a slow circle as I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. His laugh vibrated against my mouth.

"I take it things went well?" he murmured, lips brushing my cheek.

I buried my face in his neck, high off the adrenaline and the win and the man who was all mine again. "Better than well. He signed." I pulled back, beaming. "I'm officially single."

Maleek smacked my ass like it owed him money, and I yelped as he set me down. "You're single legally," he said with a wink. "And don't get used to it. You won't be for long—not if I have my way."

My heart somersaulted like it had a crush. I was full-on giggling, eyes wide and cheeks sore from smiling. "God, you're possessive."