Daniel sighed and nodded to Grant.

“Very well,” Daniel said. “Proceed.”

Lena began with the standard background questions, her voice calm and methodical.

Grant answered in short, clipped sentences, his eyes fixed on the table.

But as the questions shifted toward his personal expenses during our marriage, his tone began to change.

“My wife was always looking for a reason to control me,” Grant said, his voice rising slightly.

He looked directly at the video camera recording the session.

“This entire proceeding is a personal vendetta,” he continued. “Nora has used her family’s wealth to systematically dismantle my reputation because our marriage failed.”

Daniel nodded slightly, pleased with his client’s performance.

“She wants to destroy the Mercer name,” Grant said, leaning forward. “She is using the courts to carry out a personal grudge.”

I sat perfectly still, my hands clasped in my lap.

I did not flinch. I did not look away.

Lena turned a page in her binder.

“Mr. Mercer, let’s talk about that reputation,” Lena said.

She reached into her briefcase and pulled out a stack of documents.