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“Care to elaborate?”

“We had our ups and downs,” he says. “Mostly ups for me.”

That asshole.

“How would you describe your relationship during the first year of marriage?”

“Good. Stable.” Oliver shrugs. “She was supportive of my business ventures.”

Supportive? Try exploited.

“So, by your account, you and Ms. Barron had a good relationship for the first few years of marriage?” Amanda asks.

“Of course. Gemma and I were quite happy. Still are.”

Liar. Even early on, I could have seen the cracks forming. The late nights ‘working’ that reeked of perfume, not my own. The ‘business trips’ that never quite added up. But I still hoped.

I didn’t want it to be true. I gave up so much, and for what?

Amanda studies her notes, then looks up. “When did you first begin engaging in extramarital affairs?”

“I’m advising my client not to answer that.” Oliver’s lawyer chimes in.

“Why are we even doing this, darling? We’re happy,” Oliver says.

“We’re not happy. You cheated—”

Amanda places her hand on my arm. “How many affairs did you have during your marriage?”

“This line of questioning is irrelevant,” Oliver’s lawyer says.

“We’re here solely for the purpose of discussing that. It’s the whole reason this divorce is happening.” Amanda turns her steely gaze back to Oliver. “Well?”

He stays silent, glaring at her.

“So you deny being unfaithful to Ms. Barron during your marriage?”

Oliver glances at me, then looks away. “I... may have had some indiscretions. But I would hardly call them affairs.”

I have to stop myself from laughing out loud.

“I have affidavits here from multiple witnesses confirming your affairs.” Amanda holds up a stack of papers. “Shall we go through each one? How about we start with Megan, your secretary, right? We have her statement here.” She takes out a piece of paper.

“Yes,” Oliver says.

“Yes? So you had relations with her?”

“No, she was my secretary, that’s all.”

She wasn’t only his secretary. All the business trips he went on, he took her with him. I thought it wasn’t a big deal until I saw the photos from the private investigator my best friends had hired.

“How long did that relationship last?”

Oliver slams his fist on the table. “This is absurd! My personal life is none of your damn business!”

His lawyer tries to calm him as Amanda remains unruffled, sliding over the piece of paper. “You made it my business when you broke vows and won’t sign the divorce papers. Now answer the question.”

The lawyer leans over to Oliver, whispering something into his ear.

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