"Let me finish." Sue flashed her silencing look. She lowered her eyes once more. "An affair is really hard to prove, Mrs. Livingston. And from what Joan tells me, we really don't want to go that route. Now do we?"

"Why? Why don't we?"

Sue's eyes lifted from the page once more. There lay the accusation she had hoped to avoid. Joan told her about Cain. "So she told you."

"It troubles me that you didn't. If you want my help, then use it. On all fronts."

"Fine." Simone crossed her arms. "I have to ask, if Keith finds out that I had an affair prior to the annulment, what could he do?"

"Depends on what his motivation is. I can tell you that we are painting you as a wronged party. Having an affair with your neighbor speaks to your unwillingness to commit to your marriage, and likely not want to bear his children."

"But that's not true! I only slept with Cain after the b.a.s.t.a.r.d told me that he had the vasectomy. After Stacy showed up pregnant...after-"

"Calm down. I'm just telling you how important it is that we keep the affair beyond your husband's eyes." Simone nodded that she understood. Sue continued. "We can call upon your therapist to verify your state of mind and intentions toward motherhood. She unfortunately, can't speak to your husband's, as you know."

"Okay."

"The law also stipulates that once the fraud has been uncovered, the complainant must move into a separate residence immediately, or the marriage will be considered ratified."

"I left the night I found out but he cut off access to my accounts, my credit cards. I came home and left again."

"You stay with your sister now?"

"Yes."

"Good. Very good. You will not return under any circ.u.mstances. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Now the division of property and a.s.sets is handled differently than a divorce. Neither you, Keith, nor the judge have an opinion. It's a divide based on what you brought into the marriage and what you jointly obtained once married."

"Keith kept my name off of everything."

Sue gave her a disapproving look. The same look that Joan gave her. Simone tried not to take it personally, but it was embarra.s.sing how she let her husband run over her.

Sue cleared her throat. "There are several grievances that were done to you. When my attorneys asked you if he was physical, you became agitated."

"I did not."

"It's not an accusation, Simone."

"I'm not some abused wife. I mean, not really," Simone clarified.

Sue rocked back. "Not really?"

Simone closed her eyes.

"For us to collect on what you are due, we will bring about a civil suit. It will uncover all of your pain and suffering in this marriage. We will present everything from your loss of income over the past two years while you've been trying to get pregnant, to the intimidation tactics he repeatedly used. The closing of the accounts is one and anything else you care to share."

Simone rubbed her brow, straining against the memories she wanted desperately to suppress. "I just want my divorce. I don't want his money."

"You don't have to want it, Simone. You're ent.i.tled to it." Sue rocked back in her chair.

"How long? How long before I can be free?"

"Annulled? We can get into the courts and have a judgment after the date of the filing is set. With my contacts, I'd say in less than three weeks the marriage could be declared annulled."

"Did you say tha-three... three weeks?" Simone clutched her chest. "I could be free of him in three weeks?"

"The civil suit will take longer, but, yes, the annulment can be done in weeks. This is not a divorce, Mrs. Livingston. An annulment means the marriage was never valid. There will be no legal ties to you two. It will all be wiped completely clean."

"Wiped clean. It sounds so permanent," Simone said.

"It is. That's why the civil suit is so important. What he did to you cost you. The arrogant son-of-a-b.i.t.c.h needs to be taught a very expensive lesson. Men like him only respond that way."

"I can't believe this will all be over in three weeks."

Sue studied her for a moment.

"Something wrong?"

"You ready for the bad news?"

Her smile slowly faded. "Bad news? What Bad news?"

"Proof. Where is it?" Sue closed the folder. "Nothing here."

"But? I thought?"

"We have to prove the fraud, Mrs. Livingston."

"I told you he admitted it."

"You told me you two had a fight, and he confessed that another woman's child isn't his. But that's not proof. We need more."

"More? What more can I give you?"

"He's your husband. You tell me," Sue challenged.

"I don't know what you mean? The man has been torturing me since it happened. He's not even sorry about it. h.e.l.l, he'd probably admit it to you!"

"I doubt that. Keith Livingston, from what I've learned, is about control. He even controlled your uterus. He only gave you that information about the vasectomy to get you in line. When it didn't work, his narcissism caused him to go even further."

"What are you? An attorney or a psychiatrist?"

Sue laughed. "In this state, is there a difference?"

Simone put her hands to her face. "I told you all there is."

"Mrs. Livingston, think. Did he have any fertility tests done? Something to aid in your attempt to get pregnant? A regular physician he may have used? That way we can use them to see when he had the vasectomy?"

"He said he had it in college." Simone rose. She paced the floor. "The Livingstons are a really powerful, wealthy family. They use private physicians. Keith's dad is a judge."

"Judge George Livingston?"

"Yes."

Sue frowned. "That's his father?"

"Yes. So you see what I'm up against?"

Sue didn't speak. And that made her even more nervous. Simone continued to pace. "Even our psychiatrist is from their inner circle. But I never knew who Keith's doctor was. I a.s.sumed it was someone that, maybe the family still uses."

"Then there you have it," Sue smiled. "Find out who his doctor was in college and the year when he had the procedure, if possible. I'll pet.i.tion the courts to have his medical files subpoenaed as evidence. But I need the date to be as exact as you can. Is there a way you can do this?"

"I think." She ran her hand back through her cropped cut. "Keith won't just tell me this."

"We need proof. And I need you to buy me a little time after you uncover it. Judge Livingston has a lot of influence in this city. When we go after your husband for the annulment, they will strike to silence you. Simone, it's not just about keeping you married, it's about keeping their name blemish free. You understand why you can't continue the affair?"

"Yes, I do."

"Good."

"I know where to go to get the information," Simone said.

"Are you ready?" Sue asked. "Once we step out there, we ride it to the end. That's how I work. If you have any doubts or empathies, I suggest you decide now."

"My sister's house. You never said anything about it. How I can save it?"

"Save it?" Sue frowned.

"Yes, get it back from Keith."

"I'm sorry, but if she signed it over, it's his. There is no getting it back. And with this annulment, you won't be able to touch it."

"But that's not right!"

"Your sister could try to have a real-estate attorney review her mortgage contract, but if your husband is as savvy as I think he is, the house was signed over by law. And there's the other matter. If you try to prove his intent," Sue rose from behind her desk and walked around, "he can also introduce her drug addiction into court which would lead to more complications for her and you."

"No. He can't get away with this."

Sue leaned over. "Here is what I think. Your husband is bluffing about your sister's house. He doesn't have the ability to have her removed from it. Have you talked to your sister? Confirmed that she went into some new mortgage arrangement with Keith?"

"No. She's sick, remember?"

"Your husband's greatest weapon against you is your naivete. Stop believing everything he says. Talk to your sister and get a copy of or mortgage contract. You may find this to be a non-issue."

"I get it." Simone sat back down. Keith had been filling her up with lies. And she bought each one without question. "She's in a facility for weeks. I don't have money. I don't know if she is already behind on payments. I can't even verify if what he says is true. But even if it is a lie, the civil suit his family has been helping with isn't. She's defenseless if they throw the case. And I have no doubt that they will the moment he finds out about me going for the annulment."

"I'm sorry. But you have to see the bigger picture here, Simone. Your sister, or taking him down, and freeing yourself from him for good. Which is it?"

Simone closed her eyes.

"Men like Keith Livingston exert control to over compensate. He has a lot more to lose when you file. His reputation, pride and ego are worth more than even you can imagine. So we are going to go for it. Every time he strikes at you, we counter strike. You have to be ready to fight. I won't accept the case unless you are."

Simone nodded. "How long before he knows that I'm filing?"

"After you get the information on who the doctor is, I will start the process. He will be notified by the courts within the week."

"Okay." Simone rose, picking up her purse off the back of the chair. "I'll get it. I'm ready."

Sue gave a smirk. "What's your maiden name?"

"Wilson."

Sue extended her hand. "Simone Wilson, we're in business."

Simone shook her hand, smiling. "Yes we are."

"Don't just stand there, have a seat."

Cain stepped further into the room. He did as she said.

She rose and turned to face him. Her skin was deficient of the vibrancy and make-up she was never seen in public without. Her eyes were still that piercing blue that held him captive as a child. They stared at him with fierce anger and indignation. "I warned you about those people. That man. Didn't I? I told you that he'd screw you over. But five years for you to get a clue? Wow. Even I didn't see that coming."

"Why do you think it's about Andrew Hollingsworth?"

Rachel laughed.

Cain waited. His mother took her time, with her laughter, with her taunts, with everything. Finally she lifted her eyes to meet his again. "Did you ask me why? A man like Hollingsworth doesn't bury a dirty secret like me for free, Cain. He sure as h.e.l.l doesn't do it to marry his precious daughter off to a loser like you."

"This is going nowhere," Cain said, about to rise.

"He was playing you, Cain!" she shouted. "From the very start. Am I wrong? Marrying his princess wasn't your reward. It was your burden." Cain caught the flare of madness in her eyes. Wild and unbridled, it seemed to restore color back to her face. Rachel began to pace, pulling at her restraints. "Five years. Five years you left me here to rot. Five years." She repeated twice more.

"I had no choice."

"Oh bulls.h.i.t! You and I both know that choice is the only power we truly have in this f.u.c.ked up world. Never do we let them make the choice for us! We choose and they lose! That's what I taught you and Joseph!"

Cain watched her closely. She would want something from him too. He would have to make that choice soon. "You're right. The Hollingsworths aren't who I thought they were."

"No s.h.i.t, Sherlock."

"I'm in deep, Mom. I need your help," Cain replied.

Rachel smirked. "What's in it for me?"