My stomach twisted, not only from pregnancy but from the familiar humiliation of seeing them together without pretense. Caleb noticed me then, his eyes flicking over my swollen belly before settling into a smile that never reached his gaze.
“You look tired,” he murmured as he leaned close while the bailiff’s attention was elsewhere. “Sign the papers and disappear. You should be thankful I am being generous.”
I swallowed, my throat burning. “I am not asking for generosity,” I said quietly. “I am asking for what is fair. Child support. Shared access to the house. Stability for our child.”
Vivian laughed loudly, drawing a few glances from nearby benches. “Fair,” she echoed, tilting her head as she looked me over. “You trapped him. Everyone knows that. You should be grateful he is not cutting you off completely.”
“Do not talk about my child,” I said, stepping back as dizziness washed over me.
Her expression hardened. Before I could react, she stepped forward and struck me across the face. The sound echoed unnaturally loud, followed by the metallic taste of blood and the sharp sting spreading across my cheek.
For a moment, the room froze.