Chapter 3

“Judge.”

Liam’s voice sounded again, interrupting my thoughts.

“I’ve kept my wife’s condition a secret from outsiders, including her own parents.”

“I thought if I just took good care of her, she would slowly get better.”

He looked up, his Adam’s apple bobbed.

“I never expected something like this to happen on our wedding day.”

“She might have been under too much pressure, drank alcohol, stopped her medication, and so…”

He paused, as if it was difficult to say.

“So she had hallucinations.”

“Her memory of Ryan helping her to the lounge was twisted in her mind into… another version.”

The gallery again buzzed with whispers.

Liam took a deep breath, looking at Judge Hayes.

“Judge, I’m not here to accuse my wife.”

“I just want to take her home, to get proper treatment.”

“This lawsuit… can it please end here?”

“Please, don’t provoke her any further.”

As he spoke, his eyes were red.

Only I knew how fake those tears were.

Judge Hayes was silent for a few seconds.

He looked at me, his gaze complex.

“Plaintiff, do you have anything else to say?”

I opened my mouth.

My throat felt like it was clogged with something.

Say what?

Say this diagnosis was fake?

But it had the hospital’s official stamp and a doctor’s signature.

And I had indeed been to that hospital that day.

I was speechless.

“This case is adjourned.”

Judge Hayes rapped the gavel.

“The plaintiff must provide additional evidence within seven days, otherwise, it will be considered a withdrawal of the lawsuit.”

“Also, given the plaintiff’s questionable mental state…”

He glanced at Liam.

“It is recommended that family members take her for a medical re-examination as soon as possible and provide a formal mental health assessment report.”

Liam immediately nodded, his face full of gratitude.

“Thank you, Judge. I’ll take her tomorrow.”

He turned and walked toward me, extending his hand.

“Stella, let’s go home.”

I stared at his hand.

On our wedding day, this was the hand that held mine as we exchanged rings.

Amidst everyone’s blessings, he kissed my forehead and said,

“Stella, I’ll protect you for the rest of my life.”

Now, this hand was going to send me to a mental hospital.

I stepped back.

“Don’t touch me.”

Liam’s smile faded for a moment.

But he quickly put on his gentle expression again, walking over and grabbing my arm.

The grip wasn’t strong, but I couldn’t break free.

“Stella, listen to me.”

He leaned close to my ear, his voice very low, so only I could hear.

“You know how much I love you.”

“But in your current state, I have no choice but to send you for treatment.”

He sighed, as if genuinely helpless.

“Once you’re better, we’ll have another wedding, okay?”

I froze.

He straightened up, his face once again displaying that deeply affectionate look.

“Come on, let’s go home.”

I was pulled by him toward the exit.

Passing the defendant’s box, Ryan was still standing there.

They looked at me, a slight upward curve to their lips.

“Stella, take care.”

They spoke, their voice very soft, only I could hear.

“Next time you want to sue me, remember to get your illness treated first.”

That night, I was trending online.

#BrideAccusesFemaleOfSexualAssaultAndIsRevealedToHaveMentalIllness#

The comment section was full of people cursing me.

I turned off my phone, lying in bed, staring at the ceiling.

Every detail from the courtroom replayed in my mind.

Mental illness.

Delusions.

False accusation.

They had everything planned.

Even if I screamed it from the rooftops, no one would believe me.

The next morning, I went to the hospital to retrieve records.

But when I searched, that record was gone.

I sat in my car, gripping the steering wheel.

Liam could make hospital system records disappear.

How far did his influence stretch?