Page 12 of Hooked on Mack
“Objection!” I tried again, my face flushing. “This is irrelevant to the case.”
“Overruled.”
He continued on, spinning a fairy tale of his client's devotion and generosity while I stewed in my seat. I clenched my fists under the table, biting back the urge to interrupt again. I couldn't let him get the upper hand, but it seemed as though the judge had already made up his mind.
“Your Honor, I have evidence that will shed light on Ava's true motives in this divorce.”
“You may proceed.”
I stood up, clutching the papers that would reveal the truth behind Ava's insistence on a hefty settlement. Just as I was about to speak again, Mack interrupted me.
“Your Honor, before she presents her so-called evidence, I'd like to remind the court that this is a matter of division of assets, not an inquisition into my client's personal life,” he said, flashing that disarming smile of his.
“Please ensure your evidence is relevant.”
“Of course, Your Honor.” I drew in a deep breath and launched into my argument. But every time I tried to present the crucial information, Mack managed to interject, twisting my words and diverting the judge's attention back to the financial aspects of the case. “Your Honor, if I may approach the bench?”To my relief, he gestured for me to approach. “Your Honor,” I whispered, leaning in close, “I have proof here that Ava's real motive is to ruin Mark financially as revenge for an extramarital affair. This isn't just about dividing their assets fairly; she wants to leave him penniless.”
“Miss Montgomery, return to your seat.” His voice was cold and final.
“But Your Honor?—”
“Enough!” Judge Phillips bellowed, slamming his gavel down with a resounding crack. The courtroom fell silent, all eyes on me.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I returned to my seat, feeling the weight of defeat settling over me. I knew that without presenting Ava's true motives, my chances of winning this case were dwindling by the second.
As the hearing continued, I struggled to focus on the proceedings, my mind racing with possible strategies to salvage the situation. But one thing was clear: unless I could find a way to present my evidence, the truth would remain buried beneath Mack's charm and the judge's disapproval.
“Mark, you can't seriously think you're going to get custody of our son after what you've done!”
“Me? You're the one who's trying to bleed me dry! You don't care about our son; you just want to punish me for your own twisted reasons!” Mark retorted, his face red with anger.
“Quiet!” the judge barked, but they ignored him, continuing their bickering.
“Enough!” Judge Phillips slammed his gavel down. “Order in the court!” he growled. “I have had enough of this circus.”
Everyone froze, the weight of the judge's words sinking in. He glared at each of us in turn, his gaze like cold steel. “Attorneys, control your clients. If you cannot do so, I will have no choice but to hold all of you in contempt.” He paused,letting the threat hang in the air. “We will reconvene tomorrow morning at nine sharp. In the meantime, I expect everyone to gain some semblance of decorum.”
The hearing came to an abrupt halt. Ava and Mark begrudgingly retreated to their respective corners, leaving the rest of us to pick up the pieces. I tried to quell the disappointment and frustration bubbling inside me, knowing that I had to keep my emotions in check if I wanted any chance of winning this case.
As the courtroom began to empty, it felt like a tornado had just ripped through the room. But amidst the wreckage, there was still hope. I just needed to find a way to present my evidence without inciting the judge's wrath. The stakes were high, and the clock was ticking.
Ava stormed out of the courtroom. Mark followed close behind, muttering under his breath about the colossal waste of time this had been.
The heavy wooden doors slammed shut, leaving Mack and me alone. I stared straight ahead, refusing to look at him, afraid that his smug smile would be too much for me to bear. But when he finally spoke, it wasn't with arrogance or disdain. Instead, an unexpected chuckle escaped his lips, echoing through the empty room. I glanced over at him, irritation bubbling up inside me. How could he laugh after what just happened?
“Can you believe it?” he asked, shaking his head and grinning. “We spend years studying law, working our asses off to become the best damn lawyers we can be, and then we're reduced to babysitting bickering clients like Ava and Mark.” His laughter grew louder, and despite my annoyance, I couldn't help but crack a small smile at the absurdity of it all.
“Sometimes I wonder if we chose the wrong profession,” I admitted, letting out a short, humorless laugh of my own. “Maybe we should have gone into counseling instead.”
“Or marriage therapy!” Mack added, still laughing. “We could have a joint practice—Montgomery & Harrington: Saving Marriages One Couple at a Time.”
“Only if you promise to handle the golf-obsessed clients,” I shot back. “I've reached my limit for hearing about the intricacies of sand traps and putting greens.”
“Deal,” Mack agreed, his laughter subsiding as he wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. “But seriously, Larissa, tomorrow's a new day.”
“You're right. Tomorrow, we fight another day.”
“Wait, wait,” Mack gasped between laughs, holding up a hand. “You sounded just like this!” He mimicked my frustrated expression, complete with furrowed brow and clenched fists. “It was almost cute… if it hadn't been so infuriating.”
