I could have cried. I could have shouted. That was exactly what Victor expected. He wanted the courtroom to see an emotional ex-wife chasing money she didn’t deserve. Instead, I stood calmly and slowly unbuttoned my gray jacket.

The room grew quiet as I revealed a long burn scar running from my shoulder to my elbow. Then I carefully lifted the side of my blouse to expose another scar stretching across my ribs.

The injury had happened years earlier when an industrial mixer malfunctioned after Victor removed a critical safety feature to increase production speed. Melissa’s smile disappeared instantly. Even Victor’s attorney leaned forward in surprise.

Looking directly at Victor, I spoke softly. “You told everyone I got hurt at home. You told the insurance company I wasn’t an employee. You told the hospital I was just your wife helping around the restaurant-