No midnight drive.
Just one small sound inside me.
A door closing.
Now, in Courtroom 4B, Marcus’s legal team arranged their binders like they were preparing to conquer Europe.
Bennett Ashford stood at the center.
Tall.
Silver-haired.
Private-school smooth.
The kind of man who could say “best interests of the child” while billing $1,800 an hour to bury a mother.
“Your Honor,” Bennett began, “Mr. Vale is prepared to provide generous temporary support, including private medical care, provided Mrs. Vale agrees to relocate to a suitable residence outside the city and refrain from public statements regarding this proceeding.”
Claire rose.
“My client has no intention of being exiled from her home because Mr. Vale finds her pregnancy inconvenient.”
Savannah whispered something to Marcus.
He smiled.
I watched my father notice.
He wrote one word on his legal pad.
I couldn’t see it.
I didn’t need to.
Judge Whitmore looked at Bennett.
“Why outside the city?”
Bennett’s expression did not change.
“Security concerns, Your Honor. Mr. Vale is a high-profile individual. His residence has become subject to emotional volatility.”
“Whose emotional volatility?”
A flicker.
“Mrs. Vale has demonstrated distress consistent with—”
“Answer the question.”
Bennett paused.
“Mrs. Vale’s, Your Honor.”
My father turned to Claire.
“Evidence?”
Claire opened a slim folder.
Not one of the big ones.
The slim folder.
The one Marcus had not seen.
“Your Honor, on May 3rd, Mrs. Vale was locked out of her marital residence for four hours while seven months pregnant. Building security stated they were acting under instruction from Mr. Vale’s office. On May 11th, her prenatal insurance authorization was paused for ‘administrative review’ after Mr. Vale removed her from the executive family policy. On May 14th, two members of Mr. Vale’s private security team followed her to her obstetrician’s appointment and attempted to enter the exam room.”
A murmur moved through the back row.
Marcus leaned toward Bennett.
Bennett did not look at him.
Judge Whitmore’s eyes rested on Marcus.
“Mr. Vale authorized removal of insurance for his pregnant spouse?”
