The hallway outside the courtroom was cold, too cold. The ACs were humming, yet my skin was burning — not from temperature but from nerves. Charles’s hand brushed mine slightly. I hadn’t even realized my fingers were trembling.

“Ella,” he whispered gently.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. The day had barely begun and already I was tired.

The courtroom doors creaked open.

“Parties involved in case 207—Solace and Ella,” the clerk announced.

Charles made a move to walk in with me, but before we even reached the doors, Solace’s lawyer — a woman in a tight blue suit and an even tighter mouth — stepped forward and blocked his path.

“Only legal representatives and direct parties are allowed in this session,” she said, her voice like someone who didn't know how to whisper.

Charles didn’t budge. “I’m her fiancé.”

The woman frowned. “Still not your place, Mr. ”

But before I could even say anything, Charles raised his voice. “I will be in that room. I’m not going to stand here like some outsider while the man who broke her tries to do it again.”

The tension became thick.

Solace, already seated inside, smirked. He turned his head toward us and tilted it like someone watching a play — entertained.

“Let him in,” the judge finally said from the front. “Let’s not waste more of the court’s time.”

I felt Charles’s hand lightly touch my lower back as we walked in, and I exhaled, just a little.

The hearing began.

Solace’s lawyer, with her stack of papers and dry throat, started with some argument about parental rights and financial accountability. I didn’t hear most of it. My eyes were stuck on Solace — calm, proud, collected — like he was here for a victory lap. The man who had once sobbed into my chest when we lost Jason… was now petitioning for full control of my life.

When it was my turn to speak, my throat dried up.

The judge asked something about recent communication between the parties, and I just shook my head. “There hasn’t been any… at least not the type that matters.”

Solace chuckled.

Right there, in court, he chuckled. “That’s rich, Ella. No communication? You mean, apart from you trying to cut me off like I’m some old stain?”

Charles stirred beside me, but I placed my hand on his knee.

“Mr!” the judge warned.

“No,” Solace said. “Let’s talk about it. Let’s talk about how she’s playing house with some other guy even after killing my child!”

“One more offensive statement or accusation from you I will break your face Mr man” Charles said.

Solace stood, fists clenched. “You think you can replace me with this... soft-talking sponsor?”

Charles didn’t flinch, but the muscles in his jaw locked tight.

The judge called an order.

“Mr. Solace, Mr Charles,” he said, sighing. “This is a legal setting. Not a war zone. Given the emotional instability in this room, we will postpone today’s session and resume next week. If both parties cannot keep their tempers in check, we will impose sanctions. Is that clear?”

Neither of us answered.

He banged the gavel anyway.

As we stepped out of the courtroom, I couldn’t hold it in. I broke down. My knees buckled and I collapsed into a seat in the corridor. My tears came fast and hard, sobs rocking through my chest as I clutched my belly.

Charles crouched down in front of me, trying to get me to breathe, to focus, but I couldn’t.

“He still wants to rip me apart,” I cried, my voice muffled by my hands. “Even after all this. Even after losing Jason. After taking Cleo. After everything… He still wants to see me broken.”

Charles sat beside me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. He said nothing at first — just held me while I let it all fall out.

Eventually, when my breathing slowed, he pulled back slightly to look into my eyes.

“Ella,” he said, voice soft but steady, “we need to find the fastest way to end this. For you. For the baby. You can’t keep giving him your pain. He doesn’t deserve it.”

I wiped my face. “It’s not even about the divorce anymore. He wants to win. That’s it. He wants to see me lose, and it kills me because I don’t want to play anymore.”

Charles nodded. “Then we don’t play. We finish. We wrap this up — quick and clean.”

I looked at him. His eyes were tired, too. Tired of watching me hurt. Tired of staying strong for both of us. But still willing.

“Okay,” I whispered. “Let’s finish it.”

One week later, the second court hearing started.

Solace walked in like a peacock, Cleo trailing behind him in sunglasses, chewing gum.

I swallowed my nausea.

Charles sat beside me, his jaw tight. His hand reached for mine under the table.

The judge came in, looking more exhausted than before.

“We will not waste the court’s time today,” he began. “Both parties are to act respectfully. No personal outbursts. If this escalates again, the court will hold both of you in contempt.”

Solace didn’t even blink.

The lawyer resumed.

Things were calmer — for about ten minutes.

Then Solace stood, ignoring his lawyer.

“I have something to say,” he announced. “And I think the court deserves to hear it.”

“Sit down, Mr. Solace,” the judge snapped.

But Solace had already turned toward Charles.

“I just want to understand,” he said. “What kind of man plays lover boy to another man’s wife? What are you? A backup plan? How can you play lover boy to a muderer?”

Charles didn’t move.

“I mean, let’s be honest,” Solace added with a grin, “you think you found the woman of your dreams. But what you really found… is trash.”

The moment was electric.

Charles moved so fast, nobody saw it coming.

One punch.

Right across Solace’s jaw.

Gasps filled the room. Cleo screamed. The judge slammed his gavel over and over again.

“ORDER!”

Two bailiffs came in and pulled them apart.

The judge stood. “That’s enough! Enough of this nonsense. I will not tolerate this behavior. We will adjourn once more, but let this be clear — any further postponements or disruptions from either party, and I will hold them in contempt and charge them accordingly.”

He pointed at Charles and Solace. “Both of you — OUT.”

Charles walked out without a word.

Solace kept yelling, “Murderers, murderers”

His voice echoed long after he was dragged away.

And me?

I just sat there.

Tired.

Heavy.

The only thing I knew was this — the finish line was near.

And this time… I was going to cross it standing tall.