Stella was stunned. The old man’s words were so beautiful and hit her right in the heart. All this time, Gabe had always made her feel worthless, like trash that deserved to be thrown away. But this stranger, whom she had just met ten minutes ago, called her a diamond.
«But I’m not a diamond, sir,» Stella objected quietly. Her low self-esteem still dominated her thoughts. «I’m just an ordinary woman. I don’t have a high degree. I’m not rich. I’m not beautiful like my husband’s colleagues.»
«A pretty face and a degree fade with time, my dear,» Mr. Kessler interrupted quickly. «But a sincere heart that dares to help an old man on a bus when she herself is in trouble—that is a rare luxury. That is the real diamond.»
«And believe me, one day your husband will weep bitterly when he realizes what he let go of today.»
Mr. Kessler’s words were like cool water on the barren wasteland of Stella’s heart. For the first time since receiving that divorce summons, Stella felt a little valued. She felt seen as a human being, not as an object that had expired.
«Thank you, sir. You are very kind,» Stella said sincerely as she wiped the last of the tears from her cheeks. «I pray that your children will always cherish you because you are a very wise person.»
Mr. Kessler smiled mysteriously at that blessing. He neither confirmed nor denied it, just gently patted Stella’s hand, which was resting on the seat back.
«Save your tears, my dear. Don’t cry for someone who doesn’t know your worth. Lift your head. You did nothing wrong. Let the world see that you are strong.»
Not long after, the bus driver shouted loudly: «Courthouse, Domestic Relations Division! Anyone getting off, get ready!»
Stella was startled. The short journey had passed so quickly. Her heart began to pound again as she realized she had arrived at the battlefield.
«I have to get off here, sir,» Stella said politely as she said her goodbyes. She quickly stood up and, out of reflex, extended her hand again to Mr. Kessler.
«Where are you getting off? Let me help you move to the side so you’ll be more comfortable if more passengers get on.»
Mr. Kessler also stood up slowly, holding Stella’s hand for support. «I’m getting off here too, my dear.»
Stella frowned, puzzled. «You have business at the court too?»
«Yes, I have a small matter to attend to. I thought I’d walk with you,» Mr. Kessler replied calmly as he shuffled toward the exit door.
«Oh, please don’t trouble yourself, sir. You must be tired,» Stella said, feeling awkward.
«It’s no trouble. On the contrary, I want to make sure you walk in there with your head held high. Consider it my way of paying you back for helping me earlier,» Mr. Kessler said stubbornly but with a hint of humor.
The bus stopped in front of the imposing courthouse building, which felt cold to Stella. Stella got off first, then patiently helped Mr. Kessler down the rather high steps of the bus. They were now standing on the sidewalk, looking at the entrance of the building where the fate of Stella’s marriage would be decided.
The sun was getting hotter, but Mr. Kessler’s presence beside her gave Stella a strange sense of calm. She no longer felt like she was facing the world alone. Even though she was only accompanied by an old man she had just met, it felt much better than arriving alone like a loser.
Stella took a deep breath, filling her lungs with new courage. Together with Mr. Kessler, she walked through the courthouse doors, ready to face Gabe and all his arrogance. Unbeknownst to Stella, the old man’s small steps beside her were about to cause a huge stir inside that building.
Very soon, the Cook County Courthouse building stood solid, with large pillars rising as if to affirm that this was where all sacred vows would be tested and decided by the judge’s gavel. Stella entered the building’s courtyard with her heart pounding uncontrollably.
The air around felt heavy, perhaps from the aura of sadness and anger from the dozens of couples who came here with the intention of separating. Beside her, Mr. Kessler walked slowly but steadily. His wooden cane tapped against the ceramic floor of the lobby with a regular rhythm.
Their contrasting appearance drew the attention of a few people. Stella, a young woman with a puffy face and simple clothes, walked alongside an old man whose clothes looked worn and out of place in such an elegant government building.
Upon reaching the reception desk, Stella stopped. She felt uncomfortable dragging this man she had just met into the embarrassing drama of her marriage. To her, Mr. Kessler had already been too kind by walking with her from the bus.
«Sir, thank you so much for accompanying me this far,» Stella said softly, turning to face Mr. Kessler. «If you have other business to attend to, please go ahead. I don’t want to trouble you by having you wait for my hearing, which might take a long time. Besides, the atmosphere here isn’t very pleasant for an older person.»
Mr. Kessler smiled slightly. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes crinkled kindly. He didn’t move an inch from his spot.
«Stella, an old man like me has plenty of free time. It’s lonely at home with no one to talk to. Besides, it’s hot outside. It’s cool and air-conditioned in here. Let me just sit in the waiting area for a while. It’ll give my legs a rest.»
Stella looked at the old man doubtfully. «But, sir, when my husband arrives, I’m afraid he might speak rudely. I don’t want you to be offended or yelled at as well. My husband can be a bit short-tempered when he doesn’t get his way.»
Mr. Kessler’s face became a little more serious, though his smile hadn’t completely disappeared. He gently patted the back of Stella’s hand.
«That’s precisely why I want to be here. I want to see for myself what kind of man would dare to waste a woman as polite and good as you. Don’t worry about me. This old man has seen a lot in his life. The shouting of a young man isn’t going to give me a heart attack.»
Hearing Mr. Kessler address her so respectfully touched Stella’s heart. There was a sincere respect in the way he spoke to her, something that had long vanished from Gabe’s lips. Stella finally nodded in resignation, but inside, she felt relieved.
Honestly, she was afraid to face Gabe alone. Mr. Kessler’s presence, even as just a stranger sitting silently, gave her a bit of security. It felt like being accompanied by a father ready to defend his daughter.
«All right then, sir. Let’s sit in the waiting area over there,» Stella invited.
They walked toward the row of waiting chairs lined up in the corridor leading to the main hearing room. Some people looked at them with questioning expressions. A security guard even eyed Mr. Kessler suspiciously because his appearance was considered unkempt.
However, Mr. Kessler walked with his chin up, indifferent to the dismissive looks from others. He had a strange self-confidence, as if this building were his own home. As they sat down, Stella kept fidgeting with the hem of her dress.
Her eyes darted around anxiously, searching for Gabe. The fear was still there. The image of Gabe arriving in his designer suit, with his overpowering cologne and hurtful words, made Stella’s stomach churn.
«Stay calm, my dear,» Mr. Kessler whispered from his seat beside her. He seemed to be able to sense the anxious turmoil in Stella’s chest. «Take a deep breath. Don’t let him see you tremble. If you look weak, it will only make him feel more victorious.»
Stella followed his advice. She took a deep breath, trying to control her racing heart.
«Did you ever go through something like this before?» Stella asked quietly, trying to distract herself with conversation.
Mr. Kessler gazed into the distance, contemplating the painting of the scales of justice on the opposite wall.
«I’ve seen thousands of people cry in buildings like this, my dear. I’ve seen some cry with regret, some with pain, and some with joy at being freed from suffering. Divorce is certainly painful, but sometimes it’s the gateway to true happiness. God breaks your heart today, perhaps to save your soul in the future.»
Those wise words once again penetrated deep into Stella’s soul. She felt that the old man beside her was no ordinary person. His way of speaking was too refined for just a regular bus passenger.
But Stella didn’t dare ask more about who Mr. Kessler really was. For her, it was enough that Mr. Kessler was her guardian angel today.
«Case Number A-15. The Petitioner and Respondent. Please prepare.» The voice from the loudspeaker echoed down the corridor.
Stella flinched. That wasn’t her case number, but the voice reminded her that her hearing time was drawing closer. She glanced at the wall clock. It was almost 9 a.m. Gabe should have arrived by now.
Suddenly, from the direction of the main entrance, came the sound of dress shoes clicking sharply on the floor. Steps full of confidence and arrogance. Stella knew that sound all too well.
Her body instantly tensed. «He’s here,» Stella whispered softly. Her face turned pale.
Mr. Kessler also turned to where Stella was looking. There, striding in, was a handsome but arrogant young man, dressed in a well-pressed designer suit, a crisp white shirt, and a silk tie. Behind him walked another man carrying a thick briefcase of documents—apparently, his lawyer.
Gabe arrived with the air of a king. He didn’t look left or right. His gaze was fixed straight ahead, as if everyone in the room should move aside for him. The aura of arrogance was thick, emanating from him.
Mr. Kessler narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Gabe’s approaching figure. His old hand gripped the head of his wooden cane tighter, not out of fear, but to contain his anger at the attitude of this young man who thought he was so powerful.
So that’s the guy, Mr. Kessler thought. Let’s see how high he can fly before his wings get clipped.
Stella lowered her head, trying to hide her face, but it was too late. Gabe had already spotted her. A mocking smile appeared on Gabe’s lips as he saw his wife sitting in the corner of the waiting area.
Gabe changed direction, walking towards Stella with a disdainful look, ready to launch his first verbal assault to crush Stella’s morale before the hearing even began. Gabe didn’t notice at all the presence of the scruffy-looking old man sitting silently like a statue beside Stella, observing his every move like an eagle eyeing its prey.
The sun was getting higher, but the temperature in the courthouse lobby felt icy to Stella. Gabe stood right in front of her, his posture exuding an arrogance that seemed to fill the room. The scent of Gabe’s expensive cologne, which irritated the nose, now made Stella’s stomach turn, reminding her of the stranger standing before her, no longer the husband she once knew.
Standing beside Gabe was another equally dapper man. He clutched a leather briefcase with a smug look, occasionally adjusting his expensive glasses while glancing at Stella with contempt.
«Well, well,» Gabe began, his tone sarcastic and sharp. His voice was deliberately loud, causing people nearby to turn and look. «You finally showed up! I thought you’d be crying in the bathroom all day, too scared to face me.»
Stella took a deep breath, trying to straighten her back, which felt frail. She remembered Mr. Kessler’s words from earlier: Don’t look weak.
«I came because it’s a legal obligation, Gabe. I’m respecting the court summons,» Stella replied softly but clearly.
Gabe snorted. A short, painful laugh escaped his lips.
«Respecting the law? Oh, listen to you. Get a grip, Stella. Look at your wrinkled, disheveled appearance. How did you even get here? Did you take a CTA bus? Or maybe you walked to get some pity points? You smell like road dust.»
Stella’s face flushed. The shame spread to her ears. Gabe knew her weak spots all too well.
«I took the bus, Gabe,» Stella answered honestly.
«The bus.» Gabe repeated the word with disgust, as if Stella had just confessed to eating garbage. He turned to the man beside him. «Did you hear that, Leo? The wife of a senior associate at a prestigious law firm rides the city bus. How embarrassing. Good thing that status is about to end. I can’t imagine if my VIP clients knew my wife squeezed in with the lower class, sweating all over them.»
The man named Leo nodded in agreement, a smirk playing on his lips. «She’s in a different league, Gabe. Your decision is the right one. A woman like this would only be a stain on our firm’s top-tier image.»
Stella’s blood boiled with rage. They were talking about her as if she were an inanimate object without ears or feelings. Being humiliated in public by her own husband and a stranger was truly painful.
«Let me introduce you, Stella. This is Leo,» Gabe said, gesturing to his colleague with his thumb, showing no respect for Stella. «He’s my colleague, a top law school graduate, and he’ll be the attorney making sure you walk out of this hearing with nothing but the old clothes on your back.»
«So my advice is, instead of being embarrassed in there by Leo’s legal arguments that your small-town brain won’t understand, you should just give up now.»
Gabe snapped his fingers sharply. Leo pulled a thick blue folder from his briefcase and shoved it roughly into Stella’s chest, forcing her to take it.
«Sign this now,» Gabe ordered coldly. His eyes were hard, full of intimidation. «This is a statement waiving all claims to marital assets. The house, the car, the land—it’s all in my name because I made the payments. You were just freeloading.»
«Sign it and I’ll give you five thousand dollars as charity. Enough for you to go back to your hometown and open a food stall.»
Stella looked at the blue folder in her hands, which were trembling with rage. Five thousand dollars. Gabe valued her devotion, her sweat, and her loyalty for five years, supporting him from nothing, at a mere five thousand dollars. Meanwhile, the house they lived in had a down payment that came from Stella’s savings from sewing day and night before Gabe became successful.