Page 23 of Matrimonial Merger

The court room murmured and the judge called for order. Once they were settled things continued.

“So, your current partner has never asked for something similar? You do not send intimate messages to him?”

I set my jaw, mortified that I was being led down this road. Thankfully, I was prepared for this and much worse.

“My fiancé would never do that, no. We established firm boundaries with consent soon into the relationship—largely due to my past history. Mr. Walker pushed this line frequently over the course of our relationship.”

“So, you’ve never sent a cheeky text or video?”

“Objection. Relevance? Is the witness on trial?” The prosecutor called out.

“I will answer it,” I said.

“Ma’am, I know you’re a barrister, but I will be the judge,” the judge said with a chuckle.

“It speaks to their relationship, which is relevant,” the defense said.

“I will allow it, then.”

I took a deep breath. “I do sometimes send cheeky text via encrypted messenger—as most couples do. However, I do not send these sorts of messages, no. But if I did, that would be between my future husband and me.”

“Why did you allow this to be recorded?”

“Because he pushed me into it. I told him to delete it later. He swore he did. Obviously, he did not.”

“So, Mr. Walker agreed to delete the video?”

I nodded. “Yes. And showed me that he had. However, I would now believe he kept a copy somewhere else.”

“Have you ever done this with any other partner?”

“Objection—”

“Sustained,” the judge said. “Mr. Park, can you please stick to relevant details?”

The defense attorney didn’t show his anger. He’d planted the seeds of me being a whore in the minds of the jury and that was the whole point—cruelty to discredit me. Chandler crossed his arms, knowing the same. I turned from him back to my mother and sisters. And Chloe—the woman shooting daggers into the back of Chandler’s head. It gave me strength.

“Ms. Delphine, did you not engage in electioneering to harm my client after learning about the existence of the tape?”

“Electioneering?” I cocked my head to clarify.

“Did you fly to the UK to meet with a shadow cabinet minister who is currently Home Secretary?”

“I asked him what he knew about the matter,” I said.

“And interfered in an election.”

“Objection—”

“Relevance, yes, yes,” the judge said. “Can you explain your point, Mr. Park?”

“It speaks to motivation.”

“I’ll allow it,” the judge sighed, annoyed.

“I am a citizen of this country. I was born here. I was a voter?—”

“And you voted in this election?”

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