Page 147 of One Nightstand With My Ex's Uncle

EMILY’S POV.

Time moved so fast. When was it that I had filed the request for divorce? It didn’t feel like up to a month, yet the date had come fast, bearing down on me like a heavy weight.

Had it been a regular marriage, then I was sure to be able to get a divorce, but due to the fact that the Alpha Marriage was involved, if I didn’t win, then I’d have to stay in the marriage.

Reasons were because they felt the need to protect whomever I might try to sleep with, and in the process kill them. If my reasons weren’t solid enough, or life threatening, then according to the old Werewolf law, I would not be allowed to leave the marriage I had willingly entered.

And proving that I had been forcefully pushed into it was going to be hard without evidence.

With a racing heart, Lucas and I entered the courtroom. He looked at me, and gave a nod, and I gave one in return. The only people present were the family, the judge, and the lawyers. It was the private trial I wanted.

After the judge was seated, she spoke, “Court is now in session. Is the petitioner’s attorney ready?”

“Yes, your honor.” Lucas’ lawyer replied, getting up briefly.

“Is the respondent ready?” She asked.

“Yes, your honor.” John’s lawyer replied, also getting up from her seat briefly.

The judge began to lay out the ground rules for the procedures and expectations of the session, and all through, my heart was pounding.

Lucas’ lawyer and I had met a few times prior to D-Day, and he had told me some important things I ought to know, and likely questions I would be asked.

The Alpha Marriage was usually taken with gravity because to them, it was important that Alpha Marriage partners stay together. But if they couldn’t, then they only had to warn the partners that they had to live without causing any harm to anyone due to their careless decisions.

“We may now hear the opening statements of the petitioning attorney.” The judge said, and Lucas’ lawyer stood up.

“Thank you, your honor. Your honor, my name is Lewis Corner, from Justice Firms. I’m representing Emily Granger, and today, we’re here to prove that Emily Granger was forced by the respondent John Granger into the Alpha Marriage, despite having cheated on her countless times.

We will also prove that he had used violence on her, even after the marriage, and this is why we ask for a divorce.

Thank you, your honor.” Corner said, and took his seat.

“Thank you, Counsel. Respondent attorney. Would you like to give your opening now, or you would like to defer until the petitioning attorney rests their case?”

“We would like to give our opening statement now, your honor.” John’s attorney replied.

“You may.” The judge replied.

“Your honor, my name is Laura Gilbert, and I’m here as the respondent’s attorney to prove that John Granger did not force the marriage, and has instead tried his best to make the petitioner stay faithful to their marriage vows.”

I almost scoffed. Tried his best, my foot.

“Thank you, counsel. Will the petitioning party call on their first witness?”

“Yes, your honor. The petitioning party would like to call on Emily Granger to the stand.” Corner replied.

“Emily Granger, please take the stand.” The judge ordered, and I swallowed, wiping my hands on my dress, as I got to my feet.

Before I took my seat at the stand, I raised my hand as I was directed.

“Mrs. Emily Granger. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”

“I do.” I replied.

“You may be seated.” She permitted, and I took my seat.

“Mrs. Granger. Please introduce yourself.” Corner said.

“I am Emily Granger, spouse to John Granger, and also a secretary at The G firms.” I replied.

“Mrs. Granger, is it true that Mr. Granger forced you into marriage despite your refusal?” He asked.

“Yes.”

“Is it true you weren’t yourself at the time of signing the contract?”

“Yes.” I replied once more.

“Has Mr. Granger made any attempt of physical abuse since you were married?”

“Yes.”

“Has Mr. Granger cheated on you after the marriage?” He asked, and I paused, then looked at John, whose legs were crossed.

“Not that I know of.”

“No further questions, your honor.” Corner said, and took his seat.

“Thank you, counsel. Would the respondent like to cross-examine?” She asked, and Laura got up from her seat, making her way to me. She was young, but her glasses made her look intimidating.

“Is it true that you are in love with Mr. Lucas Granger?”

“Yes, but…”

“You are only allowed to reply with a yes, or a no.” She said, strictly, then continued, “Mr. Granger tried his best to keep up the relationship, but you did not put any effort to keep up the relationship, is it true?”

“No. The relationship was going nowhere.”

“Once more, you are only allowed to reply with a yes, or a no. Though, Mr. Granger is ready to continue marriage, you are not interested and want a divorce, is it true?”

“Yes.”

“Ever since marriage, you are troubling Mr. Granger, and want to end your marriage, is it true?”

“Uh, yes.”

“You have not spoken to family members, including family friends, and tried to resolve it amicably, is it true?”

“Yes.”

“Because of Mr. Lucas Granger, you did not pay any attention to Mr. Granger to resolve it, is it true?”

Replying with just a yes would make me seem like the bad one, but jeez, there was nothing else to do.

“I never had any attention to spare Jo…”

“Yes, or no?”

“Yes.”

I already hated her.

“You have marks that prove that Mr. Granger abused you. Is it true?”

“No.”

“You have proof that he forced you into the marriage, is it true?”

“No.”

“You loved him right from high school, and broke the marriage right after meeting Mr. Lucas, is it true?” She asked, and my lips ran dry.

That was true. John had cheated, I left, met Lucas, then returned the next morning to break off the engagement.

“Yes.”

“You gave Mr. Granger a second chance, when you revisited your past together, is it true?” She asked.

“Yes.”

“You and Mr. Granger went on a date on the last day of the year, and after that, the Alpha Marriage was signed, is it true?”

“Yes, but…”

“That will be all, your honor.” She said, with a smile, and my fists clenched. She had made it seem like I didn’t know what I wanted, and had irresponsibly entered the Alpha Marriage.

“Thank you, counsel. Would the petitioning party like to redirect?” The judge asked.

“No, your honor.” Corner replied.

“Mrs. Emily Granger. You may exit the stand.” She added, and I felt humiliated. Would it end as easily as that? Would I really have to live with John forever? Already, I couldn’t get his text out of my head. It would be over for me if he won.

“Would the respondent party like to call on a witness?” She asked.

“No, your honor. We rest.”

“Will the petitioning party like to call on a second witness?”

“Yes, your honor.” Corner replied, and I looked at him. There was another witness? “We would like to call on Miss Katherine Crooner

“Miss Katherine Crooner, please take the stand.” The judge ordered, and Katie emerged from the doors, walking towards us in a red suit. She looked as beautiful, prim, and graceful as ever, and John’s face lit up in disbelief when he saw her.

When she got to the stand, she raised her hand.

“Miss Katherine Crooner. Do you swear to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth?”

“I do.” She replied calmly.

“You may be seated.” The Judge permitted, and Katie took her seat.

“Miss. Crooner. Please introduce yourself.” Corner said.

“I am Katherine Crooner, the former secretary to Mr. John Granger, and I’m here to testify that Mrs. Emily Granger was forced into the marriage, and that Mr. John Granger cheated on her multiple times, and is in no way fit to be her partner.” She said, boldly.

“Miss Crooner. You used to be John Granger’s secretary, but quit recently, is that true?” Corner asked her.

“Yes.”

“Would you enlighten us on your reasons for quitting?”

“Mr. Granger had asked me to get the rare documents for the Alpha Marriage, insisting they were for friends of his, who wished to pledge themselves to each other. I got the documents for him, only to find out he had used them instead for himself and Mrs. Emily Granger.”

“What makes you think Mrs. Granger didn’t want the marriage?” Corner asked.

“Because she and I fought for the love of Mr. Lucas Granger, and many times, I have witnessed her plain disgust and detest, for Mr. Granger.”

“As for Mr. Granger cheating, how are you a witness?”

“I am one of the many secretaries he has forced into his bed, in one way or the other.” Katie replied, bravely, and John clenched his teeth, looking away.

He exchanged a few whispers with Laura, and clenched his fist.

“Is there a way to prove Mr. John Granger had lied about the documents?” Crooner asked.

“I record all my calls, and I have the one where he asked me to get the documents. Would you require it?” She asked.

“Yes please.” Corner’s reply came, and Katie’s phone was connected to a speaker. John’s voice came loudly from it, and the three minute call was played from start to finish. By then, John’s attorney looked like her words had been snatched out of her mouth.

“Would the respondent party like to cross-examine?” The judge asked.

“No, your honor. We rest the case.” Laura replied.

The closing statement came after Katie had exited the stand, and Corner stood proudly.

“With this, we hope we have been able to prove that this marriage has not for once been Mrs. Granger’s intention from the start, and such a forced marriage should not be embraced. We asked for a verdict declaring her free. Thank you, your honor.”

The judge declared recess, and left to deliberate before making her decision.

John’s eyes stayed on me the whole time, and I tried my best not to smile, but it was hard. I had managed to escape his clutches.

All I had left were two more years for the sculpture I smashed, and I could finally walk away from him, and end my nightmare.

Shortly, the judge returned, and took her seat.

Then, she parted her lips to speak…

“This is my verdict…”