I Helped An Old Man On The Bus, A Law Professor! My Arrogant Husband Actually Knelt When He Saw Him…

Stella was startled. The short journey had passed so quickly. Her heart began to pound again as she realized she had arrived at the battlefield.

«I have to get off here, sir,» Stella said politely as she said her goodbyes. She quickly stood up and, out of reflex, extended her hand again to Mr. Kessler.

«Where are you getting off? Let me help you move to the side so you’ll be more comfortable if more passengers get on.»

Mr. Kessler also stood up slowly, holding Stella’s hand for support. «I’m getting off here too, my dear.»

Stella frowned, puzzled. «You have business at the court too?»

«Yes, I have a small matter to attend to. I thought I’d walk with you,» Mr. Kessler replied calmly as he shuffled toward the exit door.

«Oh, please don’t trouble yourself, sir. You must be tired,» Stella said, feeling awkward.

«It’s no trouble. On the contrary, I want to make sure you walk in there with your head held high. Consider it my way of paying you back for helping me earlier,» Mr. Kessler said stubbornly but with a hint of humor.

The bus stopped in front of the imposing courthouse building, which felt cold to Stella. Stella got off first, then patiently helped Mr. Kessler down the rather high steps of the bus. They were now standing on the sidewalk, looking at the entrance of the building where the fate of Stella’s marriage would be decided.

The sun was getting hotter, but Mr. Kessler’s presence beside her gave Stella a strange sense of calm. She no longer felt like she was facing the world alone. Even though she was only accompanied by an old man she had just met, it felt much better than arriving alone like a loser.

Stella took a deep breath, filling her lungs with new courage. Together with Mr. Kessler, she walked through the courthouse doors, ready to face Gabe and all his arrogance. Unbeknownst to Stella, the old man’s small steps beside her were about to cause a huge stir inside that building.

Very soon, the Cook County Courthouse building stood solid, with large pillars rising as if to affirm that this was where all sacred vows would be tested and decided by the judge’s gavel. Stella entered the building’s courtyard with her heart pounding uncontrollably.

The air around felt heavy, perhaps from the aura of sadness and anger from the dozens of couples who came here with the intention of separating. Beside her, Mr. Kessler walked slowly but steadily. His wooden cane tapped against the ceramic floor of the lobby with a regular rhythm.

Their contrasting appearance drew the attention of a few people. Stella, a young woman with a puffy face and simple clothes, walked alongside an old man whose clothes looked worn and out of place in such an elegant government building.

Upon reaching the reception desk, Stella stopped. She felt uncomfortable dragging this man she had just met into the embarrassing drama of her marriage. To her, Mr. Kessler had already been too kind by walking with her from the bus.

«Sir, thank you so much for accompanying me this far,» Stella said softly, turning to face Mr. Kessler. «If you have other business to attend to, please go ahead. I don’t want to trouble you by having you wait for my hearing, which might take a long time. Besides, the atmosphere here isn’t very pleasant for an older person.»

Mr. Kessler smiled slightly. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes crinkled kindly. He didn’t move an inch from his spot.

«Stella, an old man like me has plenty of free time. It’s lonely at home with no one to talk to. Besides, it’s hot outside. It’s cool and air-conditioned in here. Let me just sit in the waiting area for a while. It’ll give my legs a rest.»

Stella looked at the old man doubtfully. «But, sir, when my husband arrives, I’m afraid he might speak rudely. I don’t want you to be offended or yelled at as well. My husband can be a bit short-tempered when he doesn’t get his way.»

Mr. Kessler’s face became a little more serious, though his smile hadn’t completely disappeared. He gently patted the back of Stella’s hand.

«That’s precisely why I want to be here. I want to see for myself what kind of man would dare to waste a woman as polite and good as you. Don’t worry about me. This old man has seen a lot in his life. The shouting of a young man isn’t going to give me a heart attack.»

Hearing Mr. Kessler address her so respectfully touched Stella’s heart. There was a sincere respect in the way he spoke to her, something that had long vanished from Gabe’s lips. Stella finally nodded in resignation, but inside, she felt relieved.

Honestly, she was afraid to face Gabe alone. Mr. Kessler’s presence, even as just a stranger sitting silently, gave her a bit of security. It felt like being accompanied by a father ready to defend his daughter.

«All right then, sir. Let’s sit in the waiting area over there,» Stella invited.

They walked toward the row of waiting chairs lined up in the corridor leading to the main hearing room. Some people looked at them with questioning expressions. A security guard even eyed Mr. Kessler suspiciously because his appearance was considered unkempt.

However, Mr. Kessler walked with his chin up, indifferent to the dismissive looks from others. He had a strange self-confidence, as if this building were his own home. As they sat down, Stella kept fidgeting with the hem of her dress.

Her eyes darted around anxiously, searching for Gabe. The fear was still there. The image of Gabe arriving in his designer suit, with his overpowering cologne and hurtful words, made Stella’s stomach churn.

«Stay calm, my dear,» Mr. Kessler whispered from his seat beside her. He seemed to be able to sense the anxious turmoil in Stella’s chest. «Take a deep breath. Don’t let him see you tremble. If you look weak, it will only make him feel more victorious.»

Stella followed his advice. She took a deep breath, trying to control her racing heart.

«Did you ever go through something like this before?» Stella asked quietly, trying to distract herself with conversation.

Mr. Kessler gazed into the distance, contemplating the painting of the scales of justice on the opposite wall.

«I’ve seen thousands of people cry in buildings like this, my dear. I’ve seen some cry with regret, some with pain, and some with joy at being freed from suffering. Divorce is certainly painful, but sometimes it’s the gateway to true happiness. God breaks your heart today, perhaps to save your soul in the future.»

Those wise words once again penetrated deep into Stella’s soul. She felt that the old man beside her was no ordinary person. His way of speaking was too refined for just a regular bus passenger.

But Stella didn’t dare ask more about who Mr. Kessler really was. For her, it was enough that Mr. Kessler was her guardian angel today.

«Case Number A-15. The Petitioner and Respondent. Please prepare.» The voice from the loudspeaker echoed down the corridor.

Stella flinched. That wasn’t her case number, but the voice reminded her that her hearing time was drawing closer. She glanced at the wall clock. It was almost 9 a.m. Gabe should have arrived by now.

Suddenly, from the direction of the main entrance, came the sound of dress shoes clicking sharply on the floor. Steps full of confidence and arrogance. Stella knew that sound all too well.

Her body instantly tensed. «He’s here,» Stella whispered softly. Her face turned pale.

Mr. Kessler also turned to where Stella was looking. There, striding in, was a handsome but arrogant young man, dressed in a well-pressed designer suit, a crisp white shirt, and a silk tie. Behind him walked another man carrying a thick briefcase of documents—apparently, his lawyer.

Gabe arrived with the air of a king. He didn’t look left or right. His gaze was fixed straight ahead, as if everyone in the room should move aside for him. The aura of arrogance was thick, emanating from him.

Mr. Kessler narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Gabe’s approaching figure. His old hand gripped the head of his wooden cane tighter, not out of fear, but to contain his anger at the attitude of this young man who thought he was so powerful.

So that’s the guy, Mr. Kessler thought. Let’s see how high he can fly before his wings get clipped.

Stella lowered her head, trying to hide her face, but it was too late. Gabe had already spotted her. A mocking smile appeared on Gabe’s lips as he saw his wife sitting in the corner of the waiting area.

Gabe changed direction, walking towards Stella with a disdainful look, ready to launch his first verbal assault to crush Stella’s morale before the hearing even began. Gabe didn’t notice at all the presence of the scruffy-looking old man sitting silently like a statue beside Stella, observing his every move like an eagle eyeing its prey.

The sun was getting higher, but the temperature in the courthouse lobby felt icy to Stella. Gabe stood right in front of her, his posture exuding an arrogance that seemed to fill the room. The scent of Gabe’s expensive cologne, which irritated the nose, now made Stella’s stomach turn, reminding her of the stranger standing before her, no longer the husband she once knew.

Standing beside Gabe was another equally dapper man. He clutched a leather briefcase with a smug look, occasionally adjusting his expensive glasses while glancing at Stella with contempt.

«Well, well,» Gabe began, his tone sarcastic and sharp. His voice was deliberately loud, causing people nearby to turn and look. «You finally showed up! I thought you’d be crying in the bathroom all day, too scared to face me.»

Stella took a deep breath, trying to straighten her back, which felt frail. She remembered Mr. Kessler’s words from earlier: Don’t look weak.

«I came because it’s a legal obligation, Gabe. I’m respecting the court summons,» Stella replied softly but clearly.

Gabe snorted. A short, painful laugh escaped his lips.

«Respecting the law? Oh, listen to you. Get a grip, Stella. Look at your wrinkled, disheveled appearance. How did you even get here? Did you take a CTA bus? Or maybe you walked to get some pity points? You smell like road dust.»

Stella’s face flushed. The shame spread to her ears. Gabe knew her weak spots all too well.

«I took the bus, Gabe,» Stella answered honestly.

«The bus.» Gabe repeated the word with disgust, as if Stella had just confessed to eating garbage. He turned to the man beside him. «Did you hear that, Leo? The wife of a senior associate at a prestigious law firm rides the city bus. How embarrassing. Good thing that status is about to end. I can’t imagine if my VIP clients knew my wife squeezed in with the lower class, sweating all over them.»

The man named Leo nodded in agreement, a smirk playing on his lips. «She’s in a different league, Gabe. Your decision is the right one. A woman like this would only be a stain on our firm’s top-tier image.»

Stella’s blood boiled with rage. They were talking about her as if she were an inanimate object without ears or feelings. Being humiliated in public by her own husband and a stranger was truly painful.

«Let me introduce you, Stella. This is Leo,» Gabe said, gesturing to his colleague with his thumb, showing no respect for Stella. «He’s my colleague, a top law school graduate, and he’ll be the attorney making sure you walk out of this hearing with nothing but the old clothes on your back.»

«So my advice is, instead of being embarrassed in there by Leo’s legal arguments that your small-town brain won’t understand, you should just give up now.»

Gabe snapped his fingers sharply. Leo pulled a thick blue folder from his briefcase and shoved it roughly into Stella’s chest, forcing her to take it.

«Sign this now,» Gabe ordered coldly. His eyes were hard, full of intimidation. «This is a statement waiving all claims to marital assets. The house, the car, the land—it’s all in my name because I made the payments. You were just freeloading.»

«Sign it and I’ll give you five thousand dollars as charity. Enough for you to go back to your hometown and open a food stall.»

Stella looked at the blue folder in her hands, which were trembling with rage. Five thousand dollars. Gabe valued her devotion, her sweat, and her loyalty for five years, supporting him from nothing, at a mere five thousand dollars. Meanwhile, the house they lived in had a down payment that came from Stella’s savings from sewing day and night before Gabe became successful.

«I’m not signing it, Gabe,» Stella refused. Her voice trembled as she held back tears. «We bought that house together. The down payment was my money. I have a right to that house.»

Gabe’s face turned red with anger. The veins in his neck bulged. He hadn’t expected the usually quiet and obedient Stella to dare contradict him in front of his colleague.

«You wretched woman,» Gabe hissed, taking a step closer until his face was just inches from Stella’s, trying to physically intimidate her. «You want to play rough? You think that little bit of money you had back then means anything? I paid for the rest. You’re just a parasite, a leech.»

Gabe’s harsh words hung in the air. His furious eyes were suddenly distracted by the figure of an old man sitting quietly on the bench next to where Stella stood. The figure of an old man in worn clothes with a wooden cane who had been listening silently all along, but who was now looking at Gabe with a strange, cold gaze.

Gabe frowned, annoyed by the presence of a stranger spoiling the scene. He waved his hand at Mr. Kessler as if shooing away a beggar.

«Get out of here, old man! Don’t listen in on important people’s business. This is a private matter, not a free show,» Gabe yelled rudely.

Mr. Kessler remained unfazed, simply shifting the position of his cane calmly, and then smiling faintly. A smile full of mystery.

«Please, continue, son. I’m enjoying the show. It’s not often I get to see someone digging their own grave with their sharp tongue.»

Gabe stared, his eyes wide with offense. «What did you say? You decrepit old man who doesn’t know his place? Hey, security, where are you? How can a vagrant get into the courthouse waiting area? He’s just a nuisance.»

Gabe turned to Leo. «Leo, call security. Tell them to drag this old man out of here. His smell is distracting me.»

«Gabe!» Stella exclaimed spontaneously, unable to bear seeing Mr. Kessler humiliated like that. She took a step, shielding Mr. Kessler from her husband’s glare. «Don’t be rude to your elders. This man helped me on the bus earlier. He’s a good person, with far more class than you.»

Gabe burst out laughing at Stella’s defense. «Ah, so this is your new friend? A vagrant from the city bus. Ha ha ha. Oh, Stella, Stella, you’ve really sunk low. Divorced by a top lawyer, and now you’re seeking protection from a stinking beggar. Perfect. You two make a great pair, both equally pathetic.»

Leo also laughed mockingly, adjusting his tie with an arrogant gesture. «Just let it go, boss. It’s not worth stooping to deal with a senile old man. It’s a waste of time. Just force your wife to sign, and let’s get this over with.»

Gabe stopped laughing. His face turned fierce again as he glared at Stella, ignoring Mr. Kessler, who was still sitting calmly behind.

«Listen, Stella, my patience is gone. Sign now, or I swear that in that courtroom I will expose all your shameful secrets. I’ll make it so you can never show your face in this city again.»

Stella froze. Her tears streamed down her face. She felt so small in the face of Gabe’s power.

Behind Stella, Mr. Kessler slowly stood up. His movements were calm, but radiated a powerful aura of authority, a stark contrast to his worn clothes.

«Son.» Mr. Kessler’s voice was deep, resonant, and grave, making Gabe turn instinctively. «Are you sure you want to continue with this arrogance? I advise you to speak respectfully to your wife and to your elders, because in the legal world you boast about, ethics are paramount.»

Gabe glared at Mr. Kessler, his eyes burning. His emotions peaked at being lectured by someone of a lower class.

«Who do you think you are to give me advice? What do you know about the law? I’m Gabe Mendoza, a skilled attorney from the biggest firm in the city. You’re just dust under my shoe. Get out of my sight before I have the guard drag you away.»

Mr. Kessler just let out a long sigh, shaking his head slowly, as if looking at a spoiled, lost child. Gabe had no idea that the shout he had just unleashed was the biggest mistake of his life. He had just awakened the giant whose portrait he worshipped on his office wall, but whose real face he didn’t recognize.

The atmosphere in the courthouse lobby suddenly fell silent, as if all the air had been sucked out by the escalating tension. Gabe, his pride wounded by the old man’s rebuke, snorted rudely. His hand, holding a pen, pointed at Mr. Kessler’s face, trembling with suppressed rage, on the verge of exploding.

«Listen to me, old man,» Gabe growled, his eyes blazing with threat. «I don’t care who you are. If you open your mouth again, I’ll sue you for harassment. This is between me and my wife, who doesn’t know her place.»

Gabe turned his rage back to Stella. He grabbed her arm roughly, making her cry out in pain.

«Gabe, you’re hurting me!» Stella whimpered, trying to pull away from his grip.

«Sign it now!» Gabe shouted, forcing the blue folder against Stella’s chest. «Don’t expect some prince charming to come and save you. Realize your position, Stella. You are nothing without me.»

«Let her go!» the voice boomed.

It wasn’t from Stella, but from Mr. Kessler. This time, it wasn’t the voice of a frail, weak old man. The voice thundered with authority and a resonant dignity that would make anyone’s courage shrink.

Gabe was startled. He instinctively released his grip on Stella’s arm.

Mr. Kessler took a step forward. The sound of his wooden cane hitting the ceramic floor was sharp and piercing. He stood tall, his chest out, as if the weight of age that had stooped his back had vanished. His once dull old eyes now glared at Gabe with a gaze as sharp as an eagle’s zeroing in on its prey.

«Since when does Kessler and Partners hire street thugs as senior associates?» Mr. Kessler asked, his tone cold and measured.

Gabe froze. His eyes widened. The name of the law firm was pronounced with a very specific intonation, one that a common person wouldn’t know. Kessler and Partners was his workplace, one of the most prestigious law firms in the country.

«How do you know the name of my firm?» Gabe stammered. His arrogance was beginning to crumble.

Mr. Kessler didn’t answer. He slowly adjusted the collar of his worn plaid shirt. Then, with a calm but meaningful gesture, he ran his fingers through his white hair, pushing it back.

His face was now clearly visible under the lights of the courthouse lobby. The firm jawline, the aquiline nose, and the distinctive mole under his left eye were all clearly visible.

Leo, Gabe’s colleague standing behind him, suddenly went rigid. The briefcase he was holding slipped from his grasp and fell to the floor with a thud.

«Leo, what’s wrong with you?» Gabe turned, confused by his colleague’s sudden pale and ghost-like appearance.

Leo’s body was trembling violently. His eyes were fixed on Mr. Kessler’s face with a look of horror mixed with extraordinary awe.

«Boss,» Leo whispered, his voice choked, pointing at Mr. Kessler with a trembling finger. «Boss Gabe… look closely… look closely…»

«What am I looking at?» Gabe shouted, annoyed.

He turned back to look carefully at the old man in front of him. It was then that time seemed to stand still for Gabe. His eyes scanned the old face. His memory flew to a giant, six-foot-tall oil painting that hung majestically in the main lobby of Kessler and Partners.

It was the painting of the firm’s founder, the living legend of the legal world, the god of justice whose books were required reading for every law student in the country. The figure Gabe had always idolized, whose photo he kept on his desk for motivation, but whom he had never met in person because the legend had long since retired and withdrawn from public life.

The face before him, though older and thinner than in the painting, was the same face.

The blood drained from Gabe’s face instantly. His face, once red with anger, now turned as white as a sheet of paper. His legs felt weak, like jelly. Cold sweat, as large as beads of corn, began to form on his forehead. His heart, which had been pounding with emotion, now throbbed with sheer terror.

«Mr… Mr. Kessler?» Gabe whispered, his voice almost inaudible, swallowed by an overwhelming fear.

Mr. Kessler smiled faintly, but it wasn’t the kind smile from the bus. It was the cold smile of a supreme judge ready to deliver a death sentence.

«It seems your eyes aren’t completely blind, Gabe Mendoza,» Mr. Kessler said calmly, using Gabe’s full name with precision. «I thought you had forgotten the face of the founder of the place where you make your living.»

Gabe’s world collapsed in an instant. His knees trembled so badly that he had to grab the back of a chair to keep from falling. The scruffy-looking old man he had insulted as a vagrant, whom he had called smelly, whom he had tried to kick out like a dog, was Professor Arthur Kessler, the sole owner of the law firm where he worked.

The person who held absolute control over his career and his future.

Stella, standing beside Mr. Kessler, watched the drastic change in confusion. She saw her husband, who moments ago was as fierce as a lion, now shrink into a terrified mouse.

«Gabe, what’s wrong?» Stella asked innocently, not understanding the situation.

Gabe couldn’t answer. His tongue was paralyzed, his throat tight.

Leo, being the first to react, immediately bowed deeply, almost at a ninety-degree angle to Mr. Kessler. His posture was filled with exaggerated fear and respect.

«I’m so sorry, Professor! I didn’t recognize you in those clothes. Please forgive my rudeness, Professor. I was just brought here by Gabe. I don’t know anything!» Leo stammered in a panic, trying to immediately wash his hands of the situation to save himself.

Mr. Kessler didn’t glance at Leo. His gaze remained fixed on Gabe, who was still petrified with his mouth agape.

«You said your wife is an embarrassment because she takes the bus?» Mr. Kessler asked, his voice soft but piercing. «I also took the bus today. Does that mean I’m an embarrassment to you as well?»

Gabe shook his head weakly. Tears of fear began to well up in his eyes. «No, no, Professor, no, that’s not what I meant. I swear I didn’t know it was you. I swear, Professor, if I had known it…»

«If you had known it was me, you would have kissed my feet. Is that it?» Mr. Kessler interrupted sharply. «But because you thought I was a poor person, you felt you had the right to trample on me. Is that the mentality of the lawyers I’ve trained at my firm?»

Mr. Kessler’s voice rose at the end of the sentence, echoing in the room.

Gabe felt as if he had been struck by lightning on a clear day. If Professor Kessler testified against him, it would all be over. There wasn’t a judge in the country who would dare to contradict the credibility of an Arthur Kessler. Not only would he lose the divorce hearing, but Gabe’s career as a lawyer would also be shattered. His name would be blacklisted throughout the entire legal community.

«Professor, please, don’t do this.» Gabe suddenly dropped to his knees on the cold lobby floor, his pride completely destroyed. He hugged Mr. Kessler’s legs, sobbing uncontrollably. «I’m begging you, Professor. My career? My future? Don’t destroy me, Professor. I’ll withdraw the petition. I’ll cancel the divorce. I’ll go back to Stella. Please, Professor.»

The scene was truly pathetic and, at the same time, satisfying for anyone watching. Gabe, who had arrived like a king just moments ago, was now begging at the feet of the person he had insulted.

Stella looked away. She couldn’t bear to watch, but she also felt disgusted by her husband’s insincerity. Gabe was pleading not out of love for his wife, but out of fear of becoming poor and losing his position.

Mr. Kessler looked down coldly at Gabe, groveling at his feet. He was unmoved. He slowly shifted his foot, breaking free from Gabe’s grasp.

«It’s too late for theatrics, Gabe,» Mr. Kessler said coldly. «You’re begging not because you regret hurting your wife, but because you’re afraid of losing your world. Your wife deserves her freedom today. She deserves to be free from a leech like you.»

«Get up. Don’t humiliate yourself further. We’re going to finish this in front of the judge like a man, as a man responsible for his actions should.»

Mr. Kessler then turned to Stella, extending his wrinkled but steady hand.

«Come on, Stella. Let’s go inside. Don’t be afraid. Justice is on your side.»

Stella took the offered hand, her eyes filled with tears of emotion. She walked into the hearing room with her head held high, accompanied by the legal legend. Meanwhile, Gabe, with faltering steps and an empty soul, dragged his feet behind them into the courtroom, which was about to become the tomb of his own arrogance.

Hearing Room Number Three felt much colder and more oppressive than usual. The faded white walls and rows of long wooden benches were silent witnesses to the tension hanging in the air.

At the petitioner’s table, Gabe sat slumped over. His proud, straight posture was gone. His face was pale. His eyes stared blankly at the still empty judge’s bench. Cold sweat continued to beat on his temples, even though the room’s air conditioning was humming loudly.

Beside him, Leo, the usually smooth-talking and cunning lawyer, now sat as stiff as a wax figure about to melt. He didn’t even dare to open his briefcase. Leo knew very well that both of their careers were on the line in this room. Facing Stella might have been easy, but facing the shadow of the giant behind her was suicide.

On the other side, at the respondent’s table, Stella sat calmly. Her hands were folded in her lap. Next to her sat the figure of Mr. Kessler. Although he was only wearing a worn plaid shirt and faded dress pants, the aura of dignity he radiated made the simple wooden chair feel like a king’s throne. Mr. Kessler sat upright, both hands resting on his wooden cane. His eyes were closed for a moment, as if he were meditating, waiting for the battle to begin.

The bailiff called the court to order. The side door opened. Three judges in black robes and white ties entered the room. Everyone present stood up.

The presiding judge, a middle-aged man with thick glasses and a stern face, walked to the center chair. However, as his eyes scanned the room before sitting down, he suddenly paused. The presiding judge’s eyes locked onto the figure of the old man at the respondent’s table.

He squinted, making sure he wasn’t mistaken. A second later, his stern face changed to an expression of shock, mixed with extraordinary respect. He recognized him. It was his former dissertation advisor, a retired Supreme Court justice whose integrity was internationally renowned.«Professor Kessler?» the judge’s voice was clearly audible in the silent room.

The two associate judges also turned in surprise. Then, instinctively, they slightly inclined their bodies toward the respondent’s table, a gesture of respect rarely seen in a courtroom.

Mr. Kessler opened his eyes, smiled faintly, and then gave a calm, dignified nod.

«Please proceed with your noble duty, Your Honor. Consider me not here. I am just an old man accompanying an acquaintance in her search for justice.»

The phrase «consider me not here» had precisely the opposite effect. Mr. Kessler’s presence completely changed the atmosphere in the room. The presiding judge swallowed hard, aware that this hearing was being directly supervised by the Grandmaster himself. The standard of justice in this room suddenly rose to the highest level. There would be no room for foul play.

«Very well, Professor. Thank you for your presence. It is an honor for us,» the presiding judge replied, his voice slightly nervous but polite.

He then glared at Gabe, his look seeming to say, Are you trying to get yourself killed, daring to go against someone protected by him?

The presiding judge struck the gavel three times. «The hearing is now in session. Mr. Gabe Mendoza,» the presiding judge’s voice was grave and authoritative. «In the petition you filed, it states that you are seeking a divorce on the grounds of incompatibility, and you are also claiming full control of all marital assets, alleging that your wife, Mrs. Stella, has no financial contribution. Do you stand by this petition?»

The room fell silent. All eyes turned to Gabe.