The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY novel Chapter 60

Chapter 1

I asked my husband for a divorce because my birthday gift was a pair of shoes that didn’t fit.

He looked baffled: “Over something this trivial?”

In his eyes, nothing was ever serious-

“Getting me size 8 shoes when I wear size 6 is trivial.”

“Forgetting our anniversary is trivial.”

“Losing your wedding ring is trivial.”

“Playing house with your college sweetheart while I’m having surgery is trivial.”

I shoved the shoes back into his hands.

“I have no idea what would actually qualify as serious in your world.”

“But I’m exhausted now, and I don’t want to figure it out anymore–Let’s get divorced.”

Kieran rubbed his temples and sighed: “Honey, stop being dramatic.”

Over the years, I’d threatened divorce during arguments countless times.

He assumed this was like every previous occasion–all bark and no bite.

Until I placed the divorce papers directly in front of him-

“This time, I’m completely serious.”

Seven years had proven this marriage was nothing like what I’d wanted.

I couldn’t help wondering–did I regret that impulsive decision to marry him?

If I’d chosen the other man back then, would things have turned out differently…

***

Kieran and I had been married for seven years.

In those seven years, he’d transformed from a nobody into the tech world’s golden boy, bulldozing through every

obstacle.

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The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY

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Chapter 1

Everyone said I was so lucky to have snagged such a winner

And honestly? Kieran was a decent husband by most peoples standards.

He’d dutifully report his whereabouts like checking in with parole officer. Even after he made it big, there were never any cheating scandals.

I should’ve been satisfied with that.

Isn’t that what all the marriage advice says? “Rich husband who doesn’t cheat = jackpot“?

I used to tell myself that too.

But then reality came knocking with a hospital gown and a consent form.

Nothing dramatic–just getting a nasal polyp removed. But it was my first time going under the knife, and I was scared shitless.

Kieran was drowning in some corporate crisis, and every time I mentioned being nervous, he’d get that irritated edge in his voice.

“It’s outpatient surgery, Aurora. You’re not exactly facing down brain cancer here.”

I just stood there, feeling like he’d slapped me. Of course I knew it was minor surgery.

But I’m not made of steel, and normal people get freaked out when someone’s about to slice into their face.

All I needed was for him to hold my hand and tell me I’d be okay.

He must’ve caught the look on my face, because he immediately switched to damage control mode.

“Sorry, babe. I’ll be there with you tomorrow, I promise.”

But promises, as it turned out, were just words Kieran threw around when convenient.

When I came to after surgery, groggy and disoriented, the first thing I saw wasn’t my husband’s face.

It was his assistant, looking like she’d rather be anywhere else, clutching a sad bouquet of grocery store flowers.

“Mrs. Cross, I’m so sorry. There was an emergency meeting. Kieran had to fly to London.”

I fumbled for my phone with shaking hands. Zero messages. Not even a ‘hope surgery went well‘ text.

When did my husband become too cheap to spare me thirty econds and a few thumb taps?

I gripped my phone and forced a bitter smile. “Got it. Thanks”

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The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY

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Chapter 1

The thing is, Kieran knew perfectly well that in this entire city, he was literally the only person I had.

Once the anesthesia wore off, waves of pain crashed through my face. I wanted to scream, to call someone, to have another human being acknowledge that I existed.

Instead, I pressed my face into the pillow and cried as quietly as possible.

I don’t know how long he’d been standing there–this figure in white scrubs, hands casually tucked in his pockets, just… watching me fall apart.

When I finally looked up through my tears, squinting through the haze of pain and embarrassment, I realized it was a doctor.

“You okay there?”

His voice had this calm, warm quality that made something inside my chest crack open a little wider.

I stared at him for a beat too long, my brain struggling to process through the medication fog, and then it hit me like a freight train.

Holy shit. I knew this face.

My mind went completely blank and I felt heat flood my cheeks.

Of all the hospitals in Chicago, of all the random encounters in the universe…

I stammered, “N–no, I’m fine. Thanks.”

He tilted his head, studying me with those same intense eyes remembered, then let out a small sigh and walked

over.

“Then why are you crying?”

I pointed weakly at my bandaged nose. “It hurts.”

I’d fantasized about running into Caspian Sterling again maybe a thousand times over the years, but definitely not while looking like THIS.

He moved closer, pulling out a small penlight with practiced efficiency.

“Look up. Let me take a look.”

I sat there frozen like a deer in headlights while he examine me, trying not to think about how this was possibly the most mortifying moment of my adult life.

“You’re fine. I’ll get you some pain meds. Take one if it gets bearable.”

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The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY

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Chapter 1

He glanced at me again, and for just a second, something flickered across his expression.

“And stop crying into your pillow–it’s not good for healing. If you need anything, hit the call button. I’m covering nights this week.”

I was too mortified to form coherent sentences.

I just mumbled, “Okay.”

All I could think was: When the hell did Caspian come back from wherever he’d disappeared to? And why did the universe have such a twisted sense of humor?

At least he had the decency to leave me alone with my humiliation.

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