He Watched the Stars With Her, So I Signed the Divorce Chapter 05

He Watched the Stars With Her, So I Signed the Divorce Chapter 05

Ryan arrived at the courthouse early on the morning of the hearing.

He wore his uniform, and his hair was neatly combed, as though he were there to accept an award rather than attend a divorce hearing.

When he saw Daniel and me, he hurried over.

“Emma, I didn’t sleep at all last night. Can we go home and talk? I’ll explain anything you want me

to.”

Daniel stepped slightly in front of me.

“Mr. Walker, stop pressuring my client.”

Ryan turned a cold stare on him.

“This is between me and my wife.”

I answered calmly, “Not for much longer.”

The color faded from Ryan’s face.

Once the initial divorce hearing began, the judge asked me to explain why I believed the marriage

was irretrievably broken.

I described everything in chronological order.

At first, Ryan still tried to defend himself.

“Claire and I are only friends. She produces marine documentaries and needed professional

guidance. She was also going through a difficult period, and I was afraid she might hurt herself.”

Daniel submitted the call records.

1 “Mr. Walker, you were unreachable when Ms. Carter was ill, when her father was hospitalized, and

when her mother had a medical follow-up.”

“Yet whenever Ms. Hayes was filming, suffering from insomnia, or running a fever, you responded immediately. Did the ship’s communications restrictions apply only to your wife?”

Ryan had no answer.

Claire was called as a witness.

She wore a plain outfit in muted colors and spoke softly.

“I admit Ryan and I spoke often, but we never crossed a line. Emma may be overly sensitive. She’

never liked me.”

Daniel played the recording.

Claire’s voice from the hotel restroom filled the courtroom clearly.

“You know I’m always the first person he contacts when he’s at sea.”

“What men fear most isn’t a woman making a scene. It’s a woman with nothing to offer who still

refuses to bow out gracefully.”

Claire’s expression changed.

“She pushed me too far. I only said those things because I was angry.”

I submitted screenshots of the messages she had sent to provoke me.

Claire: [Emma, don’t blame him. He’s just too kind for his own good.]

I replied: [If you’re so sure you’ve won, why are you messaging me now to apologize?]

She had not responded after that.

The judge looked at Claire.

“You knew Mr. Walker was married, yet you continued frequent private contact with him and sent messages intended to antagonize his wife?”

Claire lowered her head.

“I didn’t mean any harm.”

Ryan turned to look at her for the first time.

There was no concern in his eyes now, only belated suspicion.

The judge did not issue a final divorce decree that day. Instead, the case was referred to

court-ordered mediation before the final hearing.

The court also entered temporary orders requiring Ryan and me to remain separated and

prohibiting him from harassing me or my family while the case was pending.

When we left the courthouse, Ryan hurried after me.

“Emma, I know I handled things badly, but I never wanted a divorce. Give me some time. I’ll deal

with Claire.”

I looked down at the courthouse steps.

“You weren’t unable to deal with her. You simply never wanted to.”

His lips moved, but no words came out.

At that moment, two people in dark jackets approached him.

“Mr. Walker, we’re investigators with the institute’s Office of Research Security and Compliance.”

“We need you to answer questions regarding possible misuse of shipboard communications resources and whether you provided internal footage and route coordinates to someone outside the

research project.”

Ryan stared at them.

“What internal footage?”

One of the investigators produced several printed images.

The trailer for Claire’s documentary included unreleased route coordinates and part of a restricted

onboard data display.

Claire stood a short distance away, and her face went white.

She tried to back away, but one of the investigators called out to her.

“Ms. Hayes, we’ll also need you to explain how you obtained this material.”

Ryan turned toward me.

“Did you report this?”

I did not deny it.

“A data breach isn’t a private marital matter.”

Wind swept across the courthouse entrance, scattering several fallen leaves over the pavement.

The private channel Ryan had always kept open only for Claire had finally carried everything

straight to the court and the investigators.

Daniel said quietly, “Let’s go.”

I nodded.

Behind us, Claire called Ryan’s name softly.

He did not respond.