Chapter Twenty one
The courthouse was gray. Gray stone. Gray sky. Gray faces everywhere—reporters, lawyers, curious strangers who'd read the headlines and wanted to see a billionaire fall. I held Adrian's hand as we walked up the steps. His palm was cold. "You don't have to be here," he said. "Yes, I do." "Liam hurt you. He hurt your mother. He took your cat." "And he's still your family." I squeezed his fingers. "You don't have to face him alone." Adrian didn't answer. But he didn't let go of my hand either. --- The courtroom was packed. Liam sat at the defense table, dressed in a suit that didn't fit anymore—too loose in the shoulders, like he'd lost weight he couldn't afford to lose. He didn't look at us when we walked in. Just stared straight ahead at the judge's bench. Isabel wasn't there. Ms.
- Writer
