**A Remarkable Case**
«Your Honour, I withdraw all financial claims against the defendant,» Arthur said quietly. A murmur of confusion rippled through the courtroom.
The judge, accustomed to all manner of surprises, raised an eyebrow.
«Mr. Collins, you do realise your decision wont affect the verdict but will forfeit your right to compensation?»
«I understand.»
Katherinedespite her youth, her colleagues referred to her formally as Miss Bennettcontinued typing without a flicker of emotion. After five years in this job, she had stopped being surprised by human pettiness or foolishness. Her duty was to record it all with cold precision, like a train conductor carrying carriages of other peoples tragedies.
The case against Lydia W. was the sort the press adoreda scammer who had conned four men on dating sites without ever meeting them. She spun elaborate lies: one about a family car crash, another about a bitter divorce where even cutlery was contested, a third about a sick child
«Whats new?» Katherine thought as she prepped the files. Four grown men, seemingly successful, had played the knight in shining armour, believing money could buy them love. In reality, theyd been texting a married mother of three.
Now, they were all herethe defendant, the victims. Three of them were tense with bitterness, demanding repayment, their words laced with venom. They werent wrong. The law was on their side. Katherine mechanically noted phrases like «emotional distress,» «deception,» and «fraudulent intent.»
Arthur Collins sat slightly apart, neither angry nor pitying. When he renounced his claim, the room fell silent. One of the men spun around.
«Have you lost your mind? She played you for a fool! She probably bought her husband a phone with your money!»
Arthur looked at him with quiet sadness. «I understand. But she has three children. Let the money go to them. I dont need it back.»
Katherine glanced up, startled. Generosity was rare in these walls. She studied his handsa welders rough palms resting calmly on his kneesand his eyes, weary but free of malice. In a world where everyone fought for scraps, he had simply let go.
After the hearing, a victims lawyer shook his head. «What a dreamer. Naive as a child.»
Katherine, usually silent, countered, «Not naive. Strong. Strength money cant buy.»
The room fell quiet. Even she was surprised by her own words.
Over the next few hearings, she caught herself watching himhis quiet attentiveness, the way he sometimes stared out the window as if searching the grey sky for answers no one else cared to ask.
On the final day, after the verdict, Arthur lingered in the corridor, looking lost. Katherine stepped out.
«Need directions?» she asked, all business.
«Just turned around,» he admitted with a small smile.
«Exits that way.» She nodded.
«Thanks.»
He took a few steps before she called after him.
«Arthur?»
He turned, surprised.
«You were right,» she said, her voice unsteady. «About the children. It was noble.»
He studied her.
«You know, Katherine» He hesitated.
«Kate,» she offered.
«Kate. Kindness is rare, inside these walls or out. Thank you for noticing.»
He left. She watched him go, feeling her long-dormant heart beat a little faster.
Then came the raina downpour as Arthur stepped outside. He paused under the awning, debating whether to make a run for the bus.
A voice spoke behind him.
«We have an official umbrellafor important documents. But I think it can spare a decent man.»
It was Kate, holding a large black umbrella. There was uncertainty in her eyes, as if she couldnt believe her own boldness.
«I dont want to keep you,» Arthur said.
«My shifts over. Im walking to the park. If youre headed that way»
They walked side by side beneath the umbrella, careful not to brush shoulders. The silence was comfortable.
«Do you always defend victims like that?» Arthur finally asked.
«No. Never,» Kate admitted. «Youre the first who chose illogically. It moved me.»
«Maybe thats foolish.»
«Its rare. And rarity has value.»
They reached the park. The rain had softened to a drizzle.
«Walk with me?» Arthur asked. «If youre not in a hurry.»
Kate hesitated only a second»Protocol breached, Miss Bennett,» she thoughtthen nodded. Arthur gazed at the clearing sky. She waited, giving him time.
«This is new for me,» he said. It wasnt about the scam. «People usually dont understand. Think Im odd.»
«Because you didnt turn bitter,» Kate said softly. «These days, thats practically eccentric.»
He met her eyes. «And you? Do you think Im odd?»
«I think youre real. Thats priceless. In my line of work, real is scarce.»
He paused. «Want to know why Im so real? Why I fell for it?»
Kate nodded.
Arthur sighed. When he spoke, it was calm, as if recounting someone elses story.
«It startedand endedin school. Her name was Lily. What I felt wasnt just love. She was everything. Light, beauty, the unattainable. We were *that* coupleeveryones sweethearts. I carried her books. We danced at prom. I was certain it was forever. So sure, I think I convinced everyone else too. We were the perfect pair.»
«Then she left. Went to a top university, married a classmate. Sent me a postcardjust three words: *Sorry. This is better.*»
«Everything shattered. I didnt drink, didnt rage. Just stopped feeling. Became a welderhid behind the mask, the noise. Built walls, but inside, that naïve boy still believed in one love for life.»
«When I saw *her* photo onlinethe scammersomething woke up. She looked like Lily. But it was the caption: *Still believe in love.* Pathetic, right? I messaged her. And she wrote back all the words Id waited years to hearforever, loyalty, something real. It wasnt her lies I bought. It was the echo of my own dream. I needed proof that love like ours wasnt a delusion.»
«Funny thing? The trial freed me. At first, I was humiliated. Then, seeing herjust a scared, pitiful womanthe illusion broke. Lilys ghost finally left. The money? Payment for an exorcism. Expensive, but effective.»
He fell silent, waiting for her verdicta condemnation of his naivety. Instead, Kate placed her hand over his. It was warm, steady.
«Thank you for telling me,» she said quietly. «Now I understand. Youre not odd. Youre true to yourself.»
***
No one called Kate «Miss Bennett» lightly. She was disciplined, reserved, all businessuntil colleagues started spotting her with Arthur.
Judge Margaret Hayes, a steely woman in her fifties, broke the silence first:
«Well, Miss Bennett surprises us. I thought she had a filing cabinet for a heart. Now lookromance with the victim.»
Her colleague, Judge Ian Fletcher, smirked. «With his naivety, hes less a victim and more a defendant under excessive gullibility. Is she reforming him?»
«Ian, enough cynicism,» Margaret chided, though her lips twitched. «The mans a hard worker. And his choice was unorthodox. Principles over moneyrare in our line.»
In the break room, a regular solicitor, Simon, spread his hands. «Romance in a courtroom? Feels like a TV drama.»
Kate had changedno less professional, but softer. Sometimes she smiled at her phone. She wore a thin silver chain no one had seen before.
Behind her back, opinions split.
The men joked darkly: «Prepare for wedding invites. Youll be witnessesYes, I saw the defendant steal the secretarys heart.»
The younger women swooned: «Its beautiful! Shes always so strict, untouchable. And hes wounded but kind. And handsome. Its like a story!»
The head clerk, Valerie, scowled. «Envy quietly. Weve forgotten what real feeling looks like. A good-hearted mans rarer than gold. Kates smart. Let her have this.»
One morning over coffee, Ian couldnt resist.
«Miss Bennett, hows your noble saviour? Filed any more generous lawsuits?»
The room braced for her wrath.
Kate sipped her coffee, set it down, and fixed him with a clear stare.
«Judge Fletcher, if youre so interested in closed-case victims, I can grant full archive access. Would you like case 3-452/18? Or 2-187/19? Both had colourful defendants.»
Dead silence. Ian choked. He got the messageKate had processed *his* files too.
«No, no, Kate! Just friendly concern.»
«I appreciate it,» she said sweetly. «But my personal life isnt under trial. Yet.»
The teasing stopped, replaced by baffled respect. The clincher came when Arthur dropped her off one morningstepping out to adjust her coat collar with such tenderness, even the cynics softened.
That day, Margaret pulled her aside.
«Kate hes good. It shows. Hold onto him.»
It was the only «ruling» Katherine Bennett accepted without protest. She simply nodded.
«Thank you, Margaret. I know.»
The gossip faded. Colleagues understood: their unflappable secretary, keeper of order and records, had passed her own sentence*»Pardoned. To love. To be happy.»* And there would be no appeal.
