Chapter 17

"Thank you, now let's proceed to the defendant, please confirm your identity first. Your name is Zac Arnold, age 32, married. Is all this data correct?"

"Yes, Your Honor."

"Are you in good health and not under pressure or coercion?"

"I am in good health, Your Honor, and not under any pressure or coercion."

"Thank you."

Silence.

"For this first session, it is a reading of the charges. According to the submitted complaint, if I understand correctly, you, Isabelle, are suing Zac for divorce because he had an affair which resulted in a child with the other person. Is all this data correct, Isabelle?"

"Yes, Your Honor."

"Can you prove that your husband had an affair?"

"Yes, Your Honor."

"Do you not want to reconsider your decision to maintain your marriage?"

"I still want a divorce, Your Honor," she said firmly.

"I'm sorry, Your Honor, I don't want a divorce."

"Defendant, is it true what Isabelle said, that you had an affair that led to another person's pregnancy?"

"That's not true, Your Honor. I couldn't have had an affair because I love my wife very much. She simply misunderstood and got angry, Your Honor. I don't want to divorce her. Allow me to talk to my wife and clarify this misunderstanding, Your Honor."

Zac is lying.

"Objection, Your Honor, my client does not want to speak privately with the defendant. If there is anything to discuss, it can be done in this court."

"Permission, Your Honor, this is just a misunderstanding between husband and wife. During our marriage, the defendant has never committed domestic violence against the plaintiff."

"Objection, Your Honor, Isabelle is determined to get a divorce from the defendant. There is no misunderstanding as we have strong evidence."

"Objection, Your Honor..."

"Enough. Time is up because both parties have not reached an agreement. The second session will continue next week at 10 AM."

"With this, I declare the session closed."

-BANG-BANG-BANG-

The judge's gavel signaled the end of the session.

The First Session has concluded, and after the judges left, Isabelle hurriedly approached Lara to leave. Isabelle had an important meeting with her client.

Zac saw his wife getting ready to leave, so he rushed to her side.

"Isabelle," Zac grabbed Isabelle's hand.

"Let go."

"Can't we go back to how we used to be?"

"NO! It will never happen," Isabelle shouted and walked away from Zac.

"Isabelle, wait!" Zac shouted, wanting to catch up with Isabelle, but someone held his arm.

Zac turned, surprised. "Jenny."

"Zac, why are you chasing her?" Jenny asked, holding Zac's arm. Zac released her roughly, causing Jenny to stumble backward.

"Zac, that hurt," Jenny said, grimacing in pain. In an instant, Zac turned and was shocked to see Jenny falling.

"Jenny, are you okay?" panicking and worried, he rushed to her side.

"Zac, my stomach hurts."

"Let's go to the hospital, okay? Hold on for a moment," he said and carried Jenny into his car to head to the nearest hospital.

Zac drove at a high speed, not caring about other drivers cursing him. He reached the hospital in just 15 minutes.

He got out of the car and carried the unconscious Jenny.

"Doctor, please help my wife!" he shouted, grabbing the attention of the hospital staff.

Jenny was placed on a stretcher and rushed into the emergency room for examination.

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TO BE CONTINUED...