Beyond The Ethics:

Sarah's POV “I think we have a strong case for full custody.” Lawyer Albright said, pushing the divorce papers toward me. “David’s history of manipulation and control is well-documented, once you sign these, we can begin the process of—” The office door flew open, cutting him off. My heart dropped into my stomach as I watched David stand there, his eyes burning with cold fury. “What is the meaning of this, Sarah?” he demanded, his voice dangerously low. “David, this is a private meeting.” Albright said, standing up. “You can’t just burst in here.” “I own the building, Albright.” David snapped, not even looking at him, his gaze was locked on me. “I go where I please, and I tell you, Sarah, we are not getting a divorce.” I stood up, my hands trembling. “David, please let’s do this with some dignity. We haven’t been happy for years.” “Dignity?” He let out a harsh, ugly laugh. “You lost any right to dignity when you decided to destroy our family.” He snatched the papers from the desk. “You want a divorce? Here’s your divorce.” He tore the papers in half, then again, letting the pieces flutter to the floor like dried leaves. “David, this is highly unreasonable!” Albright protested. “We can discuss this like adults.” “Stay out of this, old man.” David warned, his voice dropping to a freezing degree. “Or I will make sure you never practice law in this city again.” Albright paled and fell silent. David turned back to me, stepping closer until I could feel his breath on my face. “You are my wife Sarah, you don’t get to leave. You will never leave.” Tears streamed down my face. “What about Chloe? Do you want her to grow up in a house with no love?” “Don’t you dare use my daughter against me!” he roared, making me jump. “You are the one tearing this family apart! You are the one who decided we weren't enough for you!” “That’s not true!” I cried, my voice breaking. “I just want us to be happy!” “Happy?” He laughed again, the sound cruel and cold. “I’ll show you what happy looks like when you’re living in a studio apartment, working a minimum wage job, seeing your daughter every other weekend if you’re lucky.” He leaned in, his eyes boring into mine. “I’m going to make sure you have nothing." "Nothing but regret for ever crossing me.” He straightened his suit jacket, his expression turning to ice. “This is just the beginning, Sarah.” “By the time I’m through with you, you’ll wish you’d never been born.” He stormed out, slamming the door so hard the walls shook. I collapsed into my chair, sobbing uncontrollably. Albright looked pale and shaken. “Sarah... I’ve never seen anything like that he's not just angry he’s vindictive. He will destroy you.” “What do I do?” I whispered, wiping my tears. “I can’t let him take Chloe from me.” “You need a lawyer who is just as ruthless as he is.” Albright said, his voice low and serious. “You need Marcus Thorne.” “Marcus Thorne?” I shook my head, feeling hopeless. “His clients are celebrities and billionaires. I can’t afford him.” “He’s an old friend,” Albright insisted. “And right now you can’t afford not to try, he is the only one, I know who might be able to stop this.” My phone buzzed, a notification from my bank. With a sinking feeling, I opened it. All joint accounts frozen. Business accounts frozen. Personal savings frozen. Available balance: $87.42. “He’s taken everything,” I whispered, showing Albright the screen. “He has left me with nothing.” “Go to Marcus,” Albright urged firmly. “Tell him your situation. He’s your only lifeline.” I stood on shaking legs, grabbing my purse. As I reached for the door, Albright’s voice stopped me. “Sarah,” he said quietly. “There’s something else, David didn’t just freeze your accounts today." " My sources tell me he’s been moving millions offshore for months. He’s been planning to destroy you long before you ever mentioned divorce.” The world seemed to tilt around me. Months? He’d been planning this while still sharing my bed? While still kissing me goodbye each morning? I stumbled out of the office, my mind beating painfully. The man I’d loved, the man I’d built a life with, had been secretly preparing to annihilate me. And as I stood in the empty hallway, completely alone with eighty-seven dollars and the shattered pieces of my life, I realized the terrifying truth. The war had already begun, and I was already losing.