**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 every manner of spectacle, raised an eyebrow.
“Mr. Collins, you understand this decision wont affect the sentencing but will waive your right to compensation?”
“I do.”
Katherinethough young, her colleagues still addressed her formally as Miss Bennett, the court clerkcontinued typing without a flicker of emotion. After five years in this role, she had grown numb to human folly. Her job was to record the endless parade of weakness, like a train conductor hauling carriages of other peoples tragedies.
The case against Lydia M. was the sort the press adoreda con artist who had swindled four men on dating sites, spinning elaborate lies to extract money. One believed her family was in a car crash; another thought she was fleeing a bitter divorce. None had even met her in person.
*Whats new about this?* Katherine thought as she prepared the files. Four grown men, seemingly sensible, had cast themselves as knights rescuing a damselonly to learn their “beloved” was a married mother of three.
Now, the courtroom held the accused and her victims. Three of the men were clenched fists of rage, demanding restitution, their words laced with venom. They werent wrongthe law was on their side. Katherine mechanically noted the familiar phrases: *emotional distress, fraudulent misrepresentation, financial exploitation.*
Arthur Collins sat apart, neither angry nor pitiful. When he renounced his claim, the room stilled. One victim spun around, incredulous.
“Are you mad? She played you for a fool! That money probably bought her husband a new phone!”
Arthur regarded him with quiet sorrow. “I understand. But she has three children. Let the money go to them. I dont need it back.”
Katherine looked up, startled. Generosity was rare in these walls. She studied his handsa welders hands, resting calmly on his kneesand his eyes, weary but unbitter. In a world where everyone fought for scraps, he simply let go.
After the hearing, a defence lawyer shook his head. “What a romantic fool. Naïve as a child.”
Katherine, usually silent, countered, “Thats not naivety. Its strength. The kind no money can buy.”
The room fell silent. Even she was surprised by her own words.
In later hearings, she caught herself watching himhow he listened without interrupting, how his gaze drifted to the window as if searching the grey sky for answers only he cared to ask.
On the final day, as the verdict was read, Arthur lingered in the corridor, disoriented. Katherine stepped out.
“Which way out?” she asked flatly.
“Ohjust lost in your halls,” he admitted with a faint smile.
“Exits that way.” She nodded.
“Thanks.”
He turned to leave, but she called after him.
“Arthur?”
He looked back, surprised.
“You were right,” she said, her voice softer now. “About the children. It was decent of you.”
He studied her. “People rarely choose kindness in these places, Katherine”
“Kate,” she corrected.
“Kate. Thank you for noticing.”
He left. She watched him go, feeling something long dormant stir in her chest.
Then came the raina downpour just as Arthur stepped outside. He hesitated under the awning.
From behind, Kates voice: “Weve a government-issue umbrella. Meant for documents, but I suppose itll serve a decent man.”
She held out a black umbrella, her expression unreadable.
“I dont want to trouble you,” he said.
“My shifts over. Im walking to the park. If youre headed that way”
They walked side by side, the silence comfortable.
“You always defend victims like this?” Arthur finally asked.
“Never,” Kate admitted. “Youre the first who acted illogically. It struck me.”
“Maybe thats foolish.”
“Its rare. And rarity has value.”
At the park, the rain eased to a drizzle.
“Walk a bit?” Arthur asked. “If youve time.”
Kate hesitated*breach of protocol, Miss Bennett*then nodded. Arthur gazed at the clearing sky.
“This is new for me,” he said abruptly. “People usually think Im odd.”
“Because you refused to grow bitter. These days, thats eccentric.”
He met her eyes. “And you? Do you think Im a fool?”
“I think youre real. Thats priceless. In my line of work, *real* is scarce.”
He paused. “Want to know why? Why I fell for her lies?”
Kate nodded.
Arthur sighed. “It startedand endedin school. Her name was Lily. What I felt wasnt just love. She was everything bright and unattainable. We were *that* coupleprom king and queen, dancing at graduation. I thought it was forever. So did everyone else. Then she left for university, married a classmate, and sent me a postcard. Three words: *Sorry. Its better.*”
His voice was steady, as if recounting someone elses life.
“After that, I just shut down. Became a welderhid behind the mask and noise. Built walls, but inside, I was still that boy who believed in one love. When I saw *her* photo onlinethe con artistshe looked like Lily. Her profile said, *Still believe in love?* I wrote back. She fed me the words Id waited years to hearabout forever, loyalty, something *real*. I wasnt buying her lies. I was buying proof my dream wasnt foolish.”
He exhaled. “The trial freed me. Seeing herjust a scared, pitiful womanshattered the illusion. The ghost of Lily finally left. The money? A fee for exorcism. Expensive, but effective.”
He waited, as if expecting condemnation. Instead, Kate placed her hand over his. Hers was warm, steady.
“Thank you for telling me,” she whispered. “Youre not odd. Youre just true to yourself.”
***
At work, Kate was known for her steel composure. But colleagues soon noticed changesa silver chain at her neck, a smile when her phone buzzed. When Arthur began meeting her after hours, whispers followed.
Judge Margaret Hargreaves, a woman whose glare could silence a room, broke the ice: “Well, Miss Bennett, youve shocked us. I thought you had a filing cabinet for a heart. Now here you are, courting a romantic plaintiff.”
Her colleague, Judge Ian Mercer, smirked. “With his naivety, hes more like a perpetual victim. Is our Kate reforming him?”
Margaret cut in, though amused. “Ian, spare us. The mans a hard worker. And his choice was unconventional. Principles over profitrare in our line.”
In the break room, a regular solicitor scoffed. “Never thought Id see courtroom romance. Straight out of a soap opera.”
The staff splitcynics predicted disaster; the younger women sighed over the “wounded, kind-hearted welder” and “ice queens thaw.” Only the head accountant, Valerie, defended them: “Envys ugly. A man with a good hearts rarer than gold. Let Kate be happy.”
When Ian prodded Kate over coffee”So, hows your noble fool?”she replied smoothly, “If youre so interested in plaintiffs, Ian, Ive files you might enjoy. Case 3-452/18, perhaps? Or 2-187/19? *Fascinating* characters.”
The room froze. Ian coughedshed clerked his cases too.
“Just friendly concern!” he spluttered.
Kate smiled. “How touching. But my private life isnt *admissible evidence*. Yet.”
The jibes died after that. The final blow to doubt came when Arthur dropped Kate off one morning, stepping out to adjust her coat collara gesture so tender, the watching clerks exchanged glances.
Later, Margaret pulled Kate aside. “Hes good, Kate. I can tell. Hold onto him.”
Kate nodded. “I know.”
The gossip faded. Their colleagues grasped the verdict Kate had passed on herself: *Pardoned. To love. To be happy.*
And it was final.
