And Nathan could no longer pretend that every person in the courtroom believed him.
9. The Evidence He Didn’t Know She Had
Rebecca returned to the table and opened Grace’s folder.
There were photographs taken after the incident, medical records documenting the injury, and a timeline that connected the dates of several threatening messages to the incidents Grace had described.
The documents did not all prove the same thing.
The photographs showed the visible injuries. The medical records documented what the healthcare professional had observed. The messages revealed how Nathan had communicated with Grace after she left.
Together, they gave the judge a fuller picture than either side’s accusations alone.
Rebecca submitted the materials according to the court’s procedures and explained how each item related to Grace’s request for protection.
Richard challenged the relevance of some of the communications.
Judge Collins reviewed them carefully.
Then Rebecca asked permission to present one final message.
It had been sent by Nathan three days before Grace left.
You know what happens when you make me angry. Don’t test me again.
Nathan’s lawyer objected to the court treating the message as proof of a specific physical act.
Judge Collins acknowledged the objection but allowed the relevant communication to be considered within the broader context of the request before her.
Nathan stared at the table.
Rebecca turned toward him.
“Mr. Miller, did you send this message to your wife?”
Nathan looked at his lawyer.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“It was an argument. People say things when they’re angry.”
“Did you intend for your wife to be afraid?”
“No.”
“Then why did you tell her not to test you?”
Nathan’s jaw tightened.
“Because she knew how to push my buttons.”
The answer escaped before he could stop himself.
Rebecca waited a moment.
“Are you saying that your wife was responsible for your decision to threaten her?”
