Chapter 5 - The Story Behind the Scar
Outside the courtroom, Karen interviewed Lily privately.
Claire waited in a conference room with her attorney, Rachel Bennett.
“Did you ever tell Gavin what happened on Route Scarlet?” Rachel asked.
“Only that I was injured during service.”
“Why not more?”
“The operation was classified.”
“Did he resent that?”
“He resented every part of my life he couldn’t control.”
Claire remembered Gavin touching the scar early in their marriage.
He had called it proof that she was strong.
Years later, during arguments, he called it evidence that war had damaged her mind.
Rachel opened the custody petition.
Gavin claimed Claire suffered from violent episodes caused by combat trauma.
He cited her scar repeatedly.
“He converted your injury into a diagnosis,” Rachel said.
“I have no such diagnosis.”
“We have medical records confirming that.”
Claire looked through the glass at Lily.
“She believed him.”
“She was a child hearing the same story from the parent who stayed home.”
The words hurt because they contained truth.
Claire’s service required absences.
Gavin had filled those absences with lies.
Karen returned.
Lily had described one recording on the old phone.
In it, Gavin sat beside her and explained Claire’s scar.
He said Claire received it after attacking another soldier.
He told Lily the Army covered it up because Claire was decorated.
“Did Lily challenge him?” Claire asked.
“She said you told her it happened while helping people.”
“What did Gavin do?”
“He made her repeat his version until she stopped crying.”
Claire closed her eyes.
Rachel touched the evidence list.
“If that recording exists, it proves coaching.”
The digital technician entered.
The phone had been secured.
But the battery was damaged, and opening the files would take time.
Judge Avery would decide whether to remain on the case before anything played.
Claire looked toward the courtroom door.
“If he recuses, Gavin will say the phone was planted.”
Rachel nodded.
“And if he stays, Gavin will claim bias.”
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Gavin had created a trap around the judge.
👉 Then Claire remembered one surviving witness from Route Scarlet who could verify the truth without relying on Judge Avery.
