Chapter 82

My jaw tightens. I glance at Maya, who nods. No turning back now. “Yes,” I say. A ripple of murmurs spreads through the courtroom. Roth pounces. “Yes. You agreed. You, the victimized Mrs. O’Brien, consented to opening your marriage. So why are we here today? Because things didn’t go your way?” “No. We’re here because he broke the agreement.” Roth tilts his head, feigning confusion. “Broke the agreement? How exactly?” I grip the edge of the stand, my knuckles white. “I agreed to an open marriage, not a hostile takeover of my home. He moved his mistress—sorry, his secretary—into our house. Into my house. That wasn’t part of the agreement.” The courtroom falls into stunned silence. Roth’s eyebrows shoot up in mock surprise. “Moved her into your house? And yet, you stayed. Why?” Maya stands, her voice firm. “Objection. Irrelevant.” Roth doesn’t even turn. “Your Honor, I’m establishing a pattern of consent and complicity.” Judge Harper deliberates for a moment. “Overruled. Answer the questi