The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1

My husband’s a judge. Everyone thinks he’s perfect.

But when our son ended up in the ICU–beaten so badly he almost died–my husband did nothing.

Because the kid who put him there? His first love’s son.

For ten years, I lived like a ghost in my own marriage.

Separate rooms. Separate lives.

18

Then I found out he’d been protecting her all along. Spending our money on her. Using his power to shield her brat while our son bled.

So I dragged them BOTH to court.

And made sure the WHOLE COUNTRY was watching.

He thought I’d stay quiet? He was WRONG.

The day our son was born, my husband–the honorable judge–kicked me out of our bedroom.

“I’m not divorcing you. Leo deserves to grow up in a stable home.”

He said it like he was handing down a sentence.

“But don’t expect anything else from me.”

From that moment on, I became invisible to him.

I could trip and fall right in front of him and he wouldn’t even flinch.

His political enemies went digging, desperate to find dirt.

Mistresses. Affairs. Anything.

They came up empty.

Because ten years of marriage, and there wasn’t a single photo of us kissing in public.

Even not one shot of us holding hands.

19:57 O

The Verdict on My Hushan the Judge: GUILTY

Chapter 1

When reporters pressed him about it, he gave them his trademark answer:

“What my wife and I share is private. That’s how it should be ”

The internet ate it up.

[So respectful]. [So disciplined]. [A man of integrity]…

Only I knew the truth.

Ten years. I was his wife in name only.

Until the day our son ended up in the ICU.

He was beaten so badly at school he ended up in the ICU with a brain bleed and a broken rib.

Machines keeping him alive.

My husband–the judge–didn’t rush to file charges.

Instead, he stalled. Delayed. Hid behind bullshit excuses about “procedure” and “impartiality.”

I couldn’t take it anymore.

One afternoon, I left the hospital early and went home, desperate for answers.

That’s when I heard him on the phone with his friend.

“Zane, if your wife finds out the real reason you’re dragging this out–that the kid who put Leo in the hospital is Emily’s son–she’ll divorce you on the spot.”

“She won’t find out.”

Emily. Emily Carson. My husband Zane’s first love.

I stood there in the hallway, frozen, as the truth gutted me.

He wasn’t impartial. He wasn’t honorable.

The scales he swore to uphold? They’d been tipped for years

Just not for me.

It was the middle of July, but I felt frozen to the bone.

From the study, Zane’s voice drifted out–calm, almost bored,

The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY

Chapter 1

“Even if she finds out, what’s she gonna do? Leave?”

His friend laughed. “Guess not. She’s stuck around this long

Yeah. They were right.

After Leo was born, I’d played the devoted wife for ten years–never once threatening divorce, never making waves.

And Zane? He’d learned exactly what that meant.

I was too in love to leave. Too weak.

His friend’s voice turned teasing. “Dude, I still can’t believe you’re carrying a torch for Emily after all these years. That girl was chaos.”

“She was your only scandal, man. Mr. Perfect’s one and only fuckup.”

“Remember when you two got busted hooking up in Coach’s office? She stood up at that assembly–in front of the entire school–and asked if her lip gloss tasted good. I thought I was gonna pass out from laughing!”

Their laughter rang through the house.

I stood in the hallway, nauseous.

Hooking up in a teacher’s office?

This was the same man who wiped his hands with sanitizer if he accidentally touched me. The same man who built a career on being untouchable.

And I was supposed to believe he used to sneak around campus with some girl, making out in empty classrooms like a horny teenager?

The bile rose fast. I barely made it to the bathroom before I was doubled over une sink, dry–heaving. Nothing came up but acid.

I hadn’t eaten in three days. Hadn’t slept. I’d been camped out at the police station, the DA’s office–anywhere I thought might help move Leo’s case forward.

Meanwhile, Zane was in his study, laughing about his ex–girlfriend!

When I came out, his friend was gone. Zane sat at his desk, flipping through case files like it was just another Tuesday.

He glanced up. Took in my bloodshot eyes, my hollow cheeks

His lips pressed together. He looked away.

The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY

0.3%

Chapter 1

“The evidence isn’t solid enough yet. The hearing’s delayed. You panicking isn’t woing to change that.”

Same bullshit.

If I hadn’t overheard that phone call, I’d still believe him.

I stepped into the doorway. “What do I have to do to get you to move this case forward?”

He frowned, already gearing up with another excuse.

I cut him off.

“If you schedule the trial, I’ll sign the divorce papers.”

He went completely still.

“Are you kidding me right now?” His voice turned sharp. “If every cop’s wife or judge’s spouse started pulling stunts

like this–blackmail, manipulation–the whole system would collapse. You get that, right?

“Leo’s getting bullied because he takes after you. Selfish. Entitled.”

The words hit like a slap.

HE was the one protecting his ex’s kid. HE was abusing his position.

And somehow, I was the villain?!

I opened my mouth to argue-

He stood up and slammed the door in my face!

The sound echoed through the house. Through my chest.

I stood there for a long moment, staring at the wood grain.

My phone buzzed. The defense attorney I’d hired last week.

He cleared his throat awkwardly. “Mrs. Rhodes… I’m really sorry, but I can’t take this case. You’re gonna need to find someone else.”

My hand tightened around the phone. I tasted copper.

“Did someone tell you to drop it?”

“Sorry. I can’t answer that.”

He hung up.

0.5%

had the Indge: GUILTY

Chapter 1

Whatever. I didn’t need him to answer it.

There was only one person in this city with enough pull to scare off a top

torney.

My husband. Zane Lawson.

I stared at the phone for a second. Then I called him back.

“You won’t take the criminal case. Fine. But you’ll take a civil suit, right?”

“Well, I need a divorce lawyer.”

♡ (0)

(0)

0.76