Chapter 1 288 Vouchers Chapter 1 After Valerie Nelson became a judge , the first case assigned to her was her husband's divorce from his childhood sweetheart . When she saw the case file , she checked it over and over . " Gwen , are you sure this defendant's info isn't wrong ? The name is Theodore Hewitt ?" The assistant judge chuckled . " Ms. Nelson , this is Theodore Hewitt , CEO of the Hewitt Group here in Los Angeles . I might make mistakes in other files , but this one ? No way . " She pulled out her phone , searched his profile , and shoved the brutal truth right in Valerie's face . The face in the photo - identical to her husband's - made Valerie go rigid as if she'd fallen into an ice pit . The count clerk twisted the knife . " Yeah , Ms. Nelson , you're new here , so you probably haven't heard . Theodore and his childhood sweetheart , Olivia Jones , have been in this love - hate tangle for seven or eight years . This is the first time it's ended up in court . The public gallery seats are booked solid ! " Valerie almost lost her balance . The file slipped weightlessly from her fingers onto the desk . The assistant tilted her head . " Wait ... Ms. Nelson , do you know Theodore ? " 09 35 Chapter 1 288 Vouchers Know him ? She'd been married to him for six years . They even had a son . The man she'd slept beside for six years was the CEO of the Hewitt Group ? And someone else's husband ? Unreal . She shook her head blankly . " I just got to Los Angeles . I don't know anyone . " After the wedding , she quit her star attorney job in New York to take care of their son , Andrew Hewitt , spending three years as a full - time homemaker . This year , to end their constant long - distance life , she'd worked hard to pass the judge's exam here . She'd planned to tell Theodore the good news tonight . Instead , fate smacked her in the face first . Sitting at the judge's bench , she finally saw the famous Olivia in person . Olivia took off her sunglasses with grace , dressed head to toe in luxury , settling into her seat . Her pale , delicate fingers tapped lightly on the table . Valerie glanced down at herself - worn from raising Andrew alone , no new clothes in three years to save money , calluses on her hands , and her only silk nightgown was torn . When the court opened , Theodore didn't show . He sent his lawyer , Frank Carlos , instead . The plaintiff , Olivia , dropped her shades onto the table with a cold , impatient face . 14 84 % 09.34 Chapter 1 " Where's Theodore ? I want a divorce ! " 288 (Vouchers Frank gave an apologetic smile . " Mr. Hewitt's in an international meeting and can't step away . He said he's already sent that one - and - a - half - billion- dollar heart - shaped blue diamond from the Sotheby's Auction to the villa . He'll be home tonight to keep you company . " Olivia let out a cold laugh , then raised her voice toward the bench . " I'm getting divorced today ! I can't take this anymore ! " Valerie forced herself to stay professional . " Olivia , please list your reasons for divorce . The court will take them into consideration . " Olivia crossed her arms . " He gives me the silent treatment . Spends half the year away . Sometimes I wake up and he's already gone . " He stands me up ! I didn't even swipe that black card for a whole month , and he didn't notice ! " And last month in Paris - I told him my stomach hurt , and he didn't get on a red - eye to cook me food! " I called him , but he was so focused on his meeting , he didn't hear me say I wanted that blue diamond . Late love's not worth a damn ! " Her whole rant - half complaint , half humblebrag - left the courtroom in stunned silence . Especially Valerie . She'd never imagined her cold , workaholic husband could be this tender . She'd thought he was just another overworked guy in Los Angeles , and she'd even felt sorry for him - using her own savings from before the marriage to cover Andrew's formula , pinching every penny , dreaming of 30 42 09:35 Chapter 1 their future together . In his eyes , how ridiculous she must have looked . Her vision blurred . A tear fell onto the file , smudging the name " Theodore Hewitt . " Frank refused to back down on the no - divorce stance , and the hearing dragged on . Then Theodore called . Frank looked relieved and put it on speaker . His voice filled the courtroom . 288 Vouchers " Baby , I'm sorry , okay ? I bought you another island . In a couple of days , let's spend a month there together , yeah ? " I don't want a divorce ... It took me forever to marry you . If you leave me , you might as well kill me . " Olivia finally broke into a laugh . " Idiot , I've got you on speaker . Everyone heard you . You can't take it back now ! " Valerie sat there , listening to her husband spill such syrupy words , her chest burning as if soaked in acid . The session wrapped up in a rush , but she still had to sort the case files for her husband and his sweetheart . Beep ! A Los Angeles news alert lit up her phone . " Spotted , The Hewitt Group CEO and Wife All Loved Up at Mondrian's Skybar ! " 48 86 % 09.35 Chapter 1 The photo showed the two locked in an intimate embrace . Her eyes went dark . She hailed a cab straight to Mondrian's Skybar . On the ride , memories of her life with Theodore played in her head . They'd met at a corporate cocktail party . By chance , she'd helped him resolve a tricky case . 288 ( Vouchers She thought they'd never cross paths again , but he came after her hard- and she fell fast . Maybe it was because she'd lost her father young and craved a whole , happy family . When he proposed , she said yes without a second thought . He'd knelt in front of her mother and sworn to treat her well for life . That first year of marriage , she felt like she was on a pedestal . At every meal , he cut her steak just the way she liked and remembered every single thing she couldn't eat . On Valentine's Day , he surprised her with a sea of flowers and a custom- designed ring ! On her birthday , he handed over all his assets . She'd cried over the 150,000 dollars he put in her account . But what moved her most - he'd gotten a vasectomy on his own . Kissing her , he'd told her , " I love you , Vallie , and I'll respect you . We'll have kids when you're ready . " Yet in their second year , she'd gotten pregnant unexpectedly . That same year, he was transferred to Los Angeles . And that's when everything started to fall apart . 62.24 % 09:35 Chapter 1 288 Vouchers From the cracked - open private room door , she heard his laughter with friends . " Theo , you've got it made - wife and son back in New York , sweetheart here in Los Angeles . We single guys can't compete . " The man at the head of the table chuckled . " What , jealous ? I could let you be Andrew's dad for free . " " Don't ! If your father finds out his grandson calls me Dad , I'm a dead man . Speaking of , when are you telling Olivia ? " Theodore took a drag , smoke curling from his fingers . " After we're back from vacation next month . Ollie's been through a lot for me . She lost the chance to be a mother to save me . I owe her a child . She'll love Andrew . " " You're not worried your wife in New York will make a scene ? I hear she's an attorney . Think you can handle that ? " The smoke blurred his expression . His cold , amused laugh said it all . " So what if she's an attorney ? Her mother's still alive . With the right leverage , Valerie will hand over Andrew without a fight . " " True . If you hadn't been trying to piss off Olivia back then , Valerie wouldn't have gotten the chance . She should count herself lucky . " Valerie went humb , her chest splitting open , bleeding out . So all his tenderness had been a lie . She and Andrew were nothing more than chips in a petty grudge . She didn't know how she made it out of Mondrian's Skybar . Outside , her phone rang - a call from her senior in Hamburg . 79.04 % 09:35 Chapter 1 288 ( Vouchers " Vallie , how's the judge's life ? Tough hours , low pay ? Honestly , why not come to Hamburg ? Our firm's about to go public . I can give you a partner seat . " This time , she didn't hesitate . " Alright . Ten days from now - see you in Hamburg . " 90 % 09:35