Branding 6

Chapter 6 

Effie showed up at the courthouse entrance, dressed impeccably, though faint dark circles betrayed a sleepless night. 

We spoke only as needed, proceeding to finalize the divorce. 

The process was smooth as silk, and by that afternoon, the paperwork was stamped and official. 

I glanced at her, expecting relief or disdain. Instead, she looked lost. 

I didn’t bother to dissect why she’d suddenly agreed to this. Maybe she was just fed up with me, or perhaps she’d spent the night tangled up with Kevin. 

Whatever the reason, the divorce was done, and that was all that mattered. 

Kevin came to pick her up, decked out in a sharp suit like a groom. 

With our marriage officially kaput, he dropped the nice-guy act, his smirk practically screaming victory. 

“You’re gonna regret letting Effie slip through your fingers,” he said, raising her chin. 

I didn’t dignify that with a response. 

Effie’s gaze was hard to read. She opened her mouth, trying to say something, but I walked away without looking back. 

Right then, someone flagged me down. “Mr. Dupont?” 

I looked up and recognized the face after a beat. It was Henry Walsh, owner of a top-tier law firm. 

He grabbed my hand with a hearty shake, his grin brimming with genuine excitement. “It’s really you!” 

“Mr. Walsh?” I blinked, returning his smile politely. 

We exchanged a few pleasantries before he ushered me to a ritzy restaurant next door. 

“Sorry for the impromptu visit,” he said, pouring me a glass of wine with a disarming chuckle. “Word got around that you resigned, and I couldn’t wait to track you down.” 

“What’s this about?” I took the glass, already sensing where this was headed, and clinked it against his with a knowing grin.” You didn’t drag me here just to sip wine, did you?” 

Henry burst out laughing, dropping the small talk. 

It turned out he was there to poach me after hearing about my divorce and resignation. He didn’t miss a chance to throw shade at Effie for letting a talent like me walk away. 

I gave a wry smile. 

Effie wasn’t a lawyer by trade. She’d only started the firm to back me up, and I’d always been grateful for that leap of faith. 

Over the years, I’d more than repaid that debt with my blood, sweat, and courtroom wins. 

But ever since Kevin waltzed in, Effie had undervalued me, oblivious to my worth in the industry. 

In law, experience meant everything. 

Henry and I hammered out a contract right then and there, setting a start date. 

That same day, I said goodbye to Clifford, rented an apartment, and treated myself to a well-earned breather. 

I worked out regularly and picked up some old hobbies, shelving in the grind of my old life. 

For the first time in years, I had time and space to figure out what I actually enjoyed, and it felt like a weight had lifted off my 

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shoulders. 

But the peace didn’t last long. 

One evening, an unfamiliar number lit up my phone. 

Puzzled, I answered, only to hear Effie’s hesitant voice on the other end. 

“Gabriel, can you help me with a case?” 

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