“Listen,” he continued, frustration leaking through control. “She has no idea what is coming. As long as I keep things calm until everything is filed, this stays manageable.”
My lawyer’s pen stopped moving.
Joel sank onto the couch beside Phoebe, so close that my chest tightened, and he did not seem to notice her presence at all.
“I cannot keep pretending forever,” he said. “If she finds out too early, she will fight me on everything. Custody included.”
The sound left my lungs in a silent rush.
Phoebe’s small voice came through the speakers then, hesitant and gentle.
“Dad,” she asked. “Why are you talking like that. Mom did not do anything bad.”
Joel’s head snapped toward her, irritation flashing across his face.
“This is adult stuff,” he said sharply. “You do not repeat this to your mother. Do you understand. Not a word.”
Phoebe shrank back, clutching her fox tighter.
The video ended. No one spoke.
The judge removed her glasses slowly and set them aside, her expression unreadable as she sat with her hands folded, absorbing what she had just seen. When she finally looked up, her gaze fixed on Joel with a steadiness that felt heavy.
“Would you like to explain this,” she asked.