Page 36 of The Ring Thief
Dad hums next to me, his eyes down on his phone as he reads through some emails. He reaches over, absently patting my knee. “Don’t stress, Lily. This is all just a formality.” He looks up, his smile small. “Laurie probably doesn’t even need us here.”
The lawyer he had on retainer for Hi-Tech had referred Laurie Stevens to us the day after I’d asked Dad for help. They’d been in contact since then, but this was our first time meeting her in person, and I’ve got no idea what to expect.
“The lawyer doesn’t need me to file my annulment?” I ask disbelievingly.
He puts his phone down, twisting in his seat to give me his full attention. “Have a little faith, Lilypad. Martin assured me that Laurie is the best at what she does.”
“Damn straight I am.”
We both turn to look as a woman with bronzed skin, a sleek black pantsuit and dark, tight curls brushing against her chin, saunters intothe room. Her lips tip into a confident smirk as she sets a thick manila folder at the head of the table.
“Grant Foster,” my dad says, standing up and shaking her hand. “It’s great to put a face to the voice, Laurie. This is my daughter, Lily Foster.” I follow his suit, her grip warm and firm.
She lifts two perfectly arched eyebrows, a challenge setting into her dark eyes as she looks at me. “I’ve got Lily Masters on all my paperwork.”
I smile tightly. “That’s something I’d love to fix.”
She tilts her head, her assessing gaze seeing more than I’d like, before she gestures for us to sit and lowers herself into her own chair. She rests two hands on the folder, eyes bouncing between us.
“I’ve read over everything you sent me”—I look at my dad with a puzzled frown but he’s concentrating on Laurie—“and I’d just like to confirm we’re seeking to declare this marriage null and void, due to fraud. Correct?”
My smile grows tighter, but I forcibly keep it in place. “Yes.”
Laurie doesn’t look away. “You’re aware if you take this route, you won’t be entitled to any of your husband’s assets? “Yes,” I croak out, before trying again, saying firmly, “Yes. I want nothing from him, but for this to be over.” It doesn’t feel like she’s judging me, but she’s intimidating as hell.
“Good, good.” She relaxes slightly, tapping her fingers over the cover of the folder. “I know what you’re going through is a lot, but it’s important that I do my due diligence so I can represent you to the best of my abilities.”
I nod in understanding, murmuring a quiet thank you as she flips open the cover of the folder. Beside me, my dad goes stiff, tension radiating off him that wasn’t there before. I don’t look at him, too focused on what she’s pulling out. One sheet looks like a thread of text messages, and curiosity has me leaning forward, trying to glimpse the names on them.
“So, when an annulment is sought on the grounds of fraud, it isn’t always easy to obtain. The onus to provide evidence is put on the plaintiff which, for obvious reasons, isn’t always easy to do.”
“Oh.” Distracted from the papers, I sit back in my seat with a frown.
“I’m not sure how we’ll be able to do that.” I look over at my dad, but he’s staring at the folder on the table like it’s about to jump out and bite him. Looking back at Laurie, I say, “I overheard the original phone call, but I didn’t record it or any other conversations I had with Declan.”
She frowns, her gaze sliding from me to my dad, a pinch in her brow. “Well, I only received all the documents yesterday, but I’ve breezed through them, and I’d confidently say we have a solid case.” She covers her confusion with an assured smile. “I already know the perfect judge to take this in front of. She doesn’t take these kinds of matters lightly, especially considering who the defendant is.”
I eye the folder. “You’re saying you already have all the evidence you need?”
Impatience flashes across her face, but she quickly masks it. “Yes. Have the two of you not talked this through? If you need more time…”
“No,” Dad says quietly. “It’s just…” He sighs deeply, as if a weight is pressing down on him. “I sent you the evidence without showing it to Lily. There’s information in there that she’s not aware of yet.”
The paper full of text messages flashes into my head, and I go light-headed, my vision whiting out. “Oh god.” I press a hand to my stomach, feeling it churn uneasily. “Is there…?” I swallow thickly. “Is there…correspondence between Declan and Silvia?” He told me he wasn’t with her like that, but I already know he’s a liar. Why wouldn’t he lie about this?
Laurie frowns, glancing down at the papers in front of her. “Silvia? No, I don’t know that name.”
Relief is momentary, followed by confusion as I look towards my dad. “What are you talking about, then? What don’t I know?”
He closes his eyes, suddenly looking a lot older. “I—” he cuts himself off, reopening his eyes to look at Laurie. “Are you able to give us a minute?”
She blinks, but then slaps the papers back into place and flicks the folder closed. “Absolutely, but don’t forget you’re being charged by the minute, and my fees aren’t cheap.” She bares her teeth in a shark-like smile and then, leaving the folder where it is, stands and leaves the room.
“She’s…” I trail off. “She’s something else. I think I might want to be her when I grow up.” Dad huffs out a weak laugh and I face him. “What’sgoing on, Dad?”
He stares down at the glossy black table, his brows pulled so low they shadow his eyes. “I didn’t like Declan when you brought him around.”
“I remember,” I say slowly.
