Richard, Jessica screamed, struggling. Get them off. This hurts. Sit her down in the jury box, Vance ordered. She is not leaving until I am done with her.
The bailiff shoved a weeping, furious Jessica, into the jury box. Vance turned his eyes to Elena, who was being helped into a chair by a kind stenographer. "Miss Elena," Vance said, his voice softening dramatically. "Are you badly injured? Do you require a paramedic?
I—I think I'm okay, your honor, Elena said, wincing. Just a bruise I can continue. You are a strong woman, Vance said. Stronger than these two deserve. He turned back to Richard, who was now standing alone at his table, looking flustered, but still defiant.
"Now," Vance said, opening a new file folder on his desk. "Mr. Sterling, you mentioned earlier that you didn't know who I was. You were expecting Judge Miller. Yes, Richard snapped, adjusting his suit. And when I call my lawyers in New York, you're going to regret this grandstanding.
You're just a small town substitute judge. A substitute? Vance mused. That is true. I usually preside over the federal appellate court in DC.
I only came back to Connecticut for a special reason. Richard paused. Federal appellate court. That was big league. What reason?
Richard asked suspiciously. Judge Vance reached into his robe. He pulled out a photograph. It was the same photograph that Jessica had smashed on the floor of the mansion. A copy of it.
A picture of an older woman holding a baby. I came back, Vance said, because my daughter called me. She told me she was in trouble. Richard looked at Elena, then at the judge. He looked at the name plate, Judge Arthur Vance.
He looked at the docket, Sterling versus Vance. The color drained from Richard's face. It happened slowly, then all at once. He turned ghostly white. "Vance," Richard whispered.
Elena Vance. That's right, the judge said, leaning forward. You never asked about her family, did you, Richard? You were too busy talking about yourself. You knew her mother died, but you never asked about her father.
You assumed he was dead or a nobody. Vance stood up again. I am Arthur Vance, and you, you arrogant, abusive little man, have been tormenting my little girl. The courtroom erupted. The reporters were on their feet.
This was the scoop of the century. Jessica from the jury box stopped crying. She stared at Elena with her mouth open. Your dad? Elena looked at Richard, tears streaming down her face, not of sadness, but of relief.
I told you, Richard. I told you that you would regret this. Richard stammered, his hands shaking violently. Your honor. Arthur.
Sir, I—I didn't know. If I had known. If you had known, you would have sucked up to me. Vance spat. You would have treated her like a princess to get to my connections.
That is why I stayed away. That is why she used her mother's name professionally to see if you actually loved her. Vance picked up the prenup agreement, the document Richard had been waving around like a shield. "You want to enforce this prenup? Vance asked, holding it up.
"I uh maybe we can renegotiate," Richard squeaked. Oh, we will enforce it, Vance said. I read it very carefully during the recess, especially clause 14, section B, Richard looked confused. Section B, the infidelity and abuse clause, Vance read aloud. If either party is found to have committed adultery or physical abuse against the other, the prenuptial agreement is voided and the offending party forfeits 75% of marital assets.
Richard's knees gave out. He grabbed the table to stop from falling. "That's not in there. My lawyers wrote it. Your lawyers are idiots, Vance said.
Or maybe, just maybe, I had a little chat with your senior partner 20 years ago and taught him everything he knows. This is a standard ironclad clause, Richard. And your mistress just kicked my daughter in open court. That is abuse, and you admitted to the affair on the stand. Vance raised the gavel.
The prenup is void. We are now moving to the division of assets. The courtroom was silent enough to hear a pin drop. Richard Sterling, a man who had graced the cover of Forbes and Fortune, looked like a child whose favorite toy had just been thrown into a wood chipper. He gripped the edge of the defendant's table, his knuckles white.
"You can't do this," Richard whispered, his voice cracking. "This is a conflict of interest. You're her father. This is a mistrial. Judge Vance leaned back, interlacing his fingers.
Actually, Mr. Sterling, under state law, a judge is only required to recuse themselves if there is a financial interest or if an objection is raised before the proceedings begin. You didn't raise an objection. You were too busy mocking the defendant. And as for conflict, I am simply enforcing the contract you signed. Vance put his glasses back on.
Now, let's do the math. The total value of the marital estate is estimated at $450 million. It's tied up in stocks, Richard shouted. I can't liquidate it. You won't have to, Vance said calmly.
Because you are transferring the shares. Under the voided prenup, Elena is entitled to 75% of the assets due to the abuse clause. That is 337.5 million. "Awesome. That's my shopping money.
Shut up, Jessica. Richard screamed, spinning around. You and your stupid foot just cost me $300 million. Oh, but we aren't done, Vance interrupted, his voice cutting through the air like a knife. We still have the matter of the napkin contract.
Exhibit B. He held up the plastic bag containing the stained napkin. You admitted under oath that you signed it. You admitted Elena saved the company from the IRS. That 10% stake in Sterling Global.
That was a separate contract independent of the marriage. And since the company has grown since 2019, that 10% is now worth. What would you say, Mr. Sterling? Richard slumped into his chair. $50 million, he croaked. So Vance scribbled on a notepad.
That brings Elena's total to roughly $387 million, leaving you with roughly 60 millions, Richard let out a breath. Okay. Okay. 60 million. I can live with 60 million.
I can rebuild. I'm a genius. I can I'm not finished, Vance boomed. Richard froze. We have to discuss punitive damages, Vance said, his eyes narrowing.