“Sit down, Mrs. Parker, or I will have the bailiff remove you for contempt,” Judge Vance warned.

Margaret sank back into her seat, her face pale with rage.

Helen adjusted her papers, preparing for the next blow.

“Your Honor, we move to the division of marital assets and the enforcement of the post-nuptial lifestyle and protection clause,” Helen said.

She handed another document to the clerk.

“The agreement signed by both parties states that in the event of gross physical neglect or abandonment, the marital estate is split seventy-thirty in favor of the petitioner,” Helen said.

“Additionally, Mr. Parker is solely responsible for all legal fees and must pay a lump-sum settlement of four million dollars.”

Ryan’s lawyer shook his head. “My client does not have those liquid assets.”

“He does,” Helen said, smiling thinly. “Or rather, he did, before he leveraged his trust fund to invest in a failing commercial real estate venture in downtown Denver.”

She placed a financial audit on the table.

“We have documented that Mr. Parker’s personal debts exceed his current liquidity,” Helen said. “To satisfy the terms of this settlement, his shares in the Parker Family Holdings must be liquidated immediately.”