The Blue Rejection That Ended My Marriage Chapter 08

The Blue Rejection That Ended My Marriage Chapter 08

A light rain was falling on the day of the hearing.

sloane sat at the respondent’s table, her eyes bloodshot.

My attorney went first, laying out the financial abuse, the transfers of marital assets, and the rest of my claims.

When he finished, Sloane’s attorney produced the agreement I had signed in the hospital.

“The parties maintained a stable marriage with no substantial breakdown in the relationship.”

“This agreement was signed voluntarily. It shows that Mr. Hale has spent a long time at home with little social contact and is somewhat emotionally reactive.”

“My client still hopes to reconcile. She is not seeking any relief against Mr. Hale.”

I glanced at Sloane.

She kept her head down without saying a word.

As if every humiliation I had endured, every time she had dismissed me, was still nothing more

than me acting out.

I submitted the evidence one piece at a time.

I submitted proof of copyright ownership for the original Project Deep Blue designs, along with the registration date.

I submitted the recording from the day she forced me to sign the agreement.

I also submitted two years‘ worth of blue denials.

Only then did Sloane begin to look shaken.

A moment later, the courtroom speakers filled with the voices from my hospital room.

“Sign it, and you’ll get every single piece of your mother’s work back.”

“His condition is urgent!”

“Do what Miles says. There’s no rush.”

Sloane’s calm words, Miles’s urging, and my own weak pleas echoed clearly through the

courtroom.

Sloane’s hands clenched tightly in her lap. The last trace of hope that this might still go her way

sappeared.

Her attorney started to speak again, but she raised a hand to stop him.

“That’s enough.”

Her voice was exhausted, each word deliberate.

“I won’t contest it.”

“I agree to everything Mr. Hale is asking for.”

The judge looked at her.

“Ms. Mercer, do you also agree to Mr. Hale’s proposed division of marital property?”

“I do.”

“And he can have the house and the rest of the marital property as well.”

With Sloane cooperating, the hearing ended quickly, and the judge’s ruling took effect

immediately.

By the time I came out of the courthouse, the sky had cleared.

Nathan was already there. The moment he saw me, he hurried over.

I was still using a wheelchair and had just started rolling toward him when hurried footsteps

sounded behind me.

Sloane came running out.

“Elliot!”

Her eyes were pleading.

“I really didn’t know about all those requests. I didn’t know things had gotten that bad for you.”

Looking at her now, all I could think about was another time.

When I asked for a back massager because of my back pain, Miles denied the request.

I called Sloane and told her what had happened.

She had sounded irritated.

“Elliot, I’m busy. I don’t have time for every little thing.”

“Just do what Miles says.”

I came back to the present and looked at her.

“Sloane, you did know.”

“You just didn’t care.”

“You didn’t care about me, so you didn’t care about my condition either.”

Whatever light was left in her eyes went out.

“Elliot, I know I was wrong.”

“No. You don’t suddenly understand what you did wrong. You just finally realized I’m actually

leaving.”

“Then what can I do for you?”

“Stay out of my life.”