Skylar didn’t answer. Sandra had told her many times not to react to their provocations, to let the legal documents speak for themselves. And the documents spoke very loudly.

Inside the courtroom, Derek tried to present himself as a man desperate to save his marriage.

“I never meant to hurt her, Your Honor,” he told the judge, wearing an innocent expression. “It was just a heated argument. She swung her arms, the cup fell out of my hand.

My sister had nothing to do with any of it. This is all an exaggeration.”

The judge studied the medical report, the photographs of the burn, the printed text messages. Then she listened to the audio in which Derek clearly said, “Give her the card tomorrow, or you’ll see.”

The judge’s face didn’t change, but the silence in the room became deeply uncomfortable. Sandra rose to address the court.