Chapter 5: The Lawyer Who Spoke Too Much
The next morning, Michael’s lawyer arrived.
Not politely.
Not formally.
Strategically.
He didn’t sit when offered.
He didn’t greet Rachel.
He didn’t acknowledge Dr. Brooks.
His eyes went straight to me.
Like I was still a case file.
Not a person.
“You’ve made things complicated,” he said.
I smiled slightly.
“No,” I replied.
“I’ve made them accurate.”
He placed a folder on the table.
Property agreements.
Financial leverage documents.
Custody pressure clauses disguised as concern.
“This can all be resolved quietly,” he said.
A pause.
“Michael is willing to be reasonable.”
Dr. Brooks finally spoke.
“That’s not a legal term.”
The lawyer ignored him.
“You misunderstand your position.”
I leaned forward slightly.
“No,” I said.
“You misunderstand mine.”
Silence.
Because something about certainty shifts tone in a room.
Even legal ones.
The lawyer opened the folder.
“You signed these agreements.”
I nodded.
“I did.”
A pause.
“When I trusted him.”
Rachel stepped closer behind me.
The lawyer noticed.
Then dismissed her.
A mistake.
Because support systems are not visible until pressure reveals them.
“I suggest you reconsider,” he said.
“I suggest you stop,” I replied.
A pause.
“Before this stops being about paperwork.”
That sentence changed his expression slightly.
Not fear.
Recognition.
He closed the folder.
“You’re being influenced,” he said.
I laughed once.
Not amused.
Exhausted by repetition.
“No,” I said.
“I’m finally not.”
He stood.
“This won’t end well.”
Dr. Brooks replied calmly:
“It already didn’t.”
The lawyer left.
No resolution.
May you like
Only warning.
And warnings are just threats that admit uncertainty.
