The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY novel Chapter 3

Zane.

Dylan was tucked under his arm.

An older woman in the bed held Emily’s hand, pressing it into Zane’s palm. Her voice shook with emotion.

“Zane, sweetheart, Emily’s been through hell. That bastard walked out on her and Dylan without looking back. I

don’t know what she would’ve done without you.”

Zane–the man who sanitized his hands after accidentally brushing against me–held on tight.

His voice was soft. A gentleness I’d never heard.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of them. Both of them.”

The pain was so sharp.

I lifted my phone. Hit record. Captured the whole scene–this perfect little family, all warmth and belonging.

Fine, Zane. You can’t let her go? I’ll help you out.

Two weeks later, the trial got delayed again. “Insufficient evidence.”

I’d known it was coming. Didn’t stop it from gutting me.

That same morning, Leo was supposed to go back to school for the first time since the attack.

I shoved everything down and forced a smile.

Outside the school entrance, he wouldn’t look at me. Just stared at his shoes.

“Mom… Dylan’s really gonna get arrested, right?”

My throat burned. I pulled him close.

“Yes. I swear. Everyone who hurt you is going to pay.”

Every single one of them.

I promise, son.

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The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY

Chapter 3

It took less than twenty–four hours.

Dylan cornered Leo in the locker room. Slapped him. Forced him to his knees in front of the other kids.

When I got to the hospital, Zane was already there–phone to his ear.

“Just keep it quiet for now-”

I didn’t even think.

My hand flew across his face!

He stumbled back, eyes wide.

Then his jaw locked.

“Can you stop making everything about your feelings? I’m trying to handle this the right way. You’re just making it

harder.”

I was standing over Leo’s bed, shaking all over.

“GET. OUT.”

He exhaled like I was being unreasonable. “I’ll handle this. I told you.”

I didn’t want to hear it. Not another lie.

That afternoon, I went to the school district office myself. Filed an official complaint.

Two hours later, Dylan was pulled from class for questioning.

Emily showed up at the hospital with Zane right behind her.

She dropped to her knees the second she saw me–mascara streaking, hands clasped.

“Jenna, please. He’s just a little boy. This kind of interrogation will traumatize him. Please withdraw the complaint!”

I looked past her.

At Zane.

For just a second, his face cracked–worry, heartbreak–and caught it.

His OWN son was in a hospital bed because of hers. And Zane felt sorry for her!

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The Verdict on My Husbad the Judge: GUILTY

Chapter 3

He bent down and pulled Emily to her feet, steadying her.

Then he turned to me. His voice was steel.

“Withdraw it.”

I didn’t blink.

“Over my dead body.”

He pulled out his phone. Typed. Sent.

Af

Thirty seconds later, my phone rang.

My boss.

“Jenna–what did you do? The DA’s office just called. Someone reported you for tax fraud. Don’t come in tomorrow.”

The line went dead.

I stood there. Ears ringing.

Zane’s face was blank. “You pushed me into this.”

No. If I went to jail, what would happen to Leo?

I had no choice.

I withdrew the complaint.

They released Dylan that same day.

I watched from across the room as the three of them hugged Zane, Emily, Dylan–like they were the real family.

One day. Two. Three.

Zane never kept his word.

The charges didn’t go away.

Instead, I got fired.

And Emily? She became his judicial assistant. Working directly under him.

He didn’t even try to hide it.

I didn’t ask why. What was the point?

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The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY

Chapter 3

He came to me anyway.

“It’s not what you think. She’s a single mom. She needs stability.”

Then–for the first time in years–he reached for me.

Wrapped his arms around me from behind.

I used to dream about this.

Now it made my skin crawl.

I shoved him off. Let out a cold laugh.

“You think this’ll make me back down? You’re INSANE.”

He stormed out.

The second the door closed, I grabbed my phone and texted to my lawyer.

[Mr. Chen. I’ve got everything we need. Let’s move forward with the divorce.]

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The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY