“Your Honor, I—”
“Now.”
Slowly, as if the diamonds had turned into thorns, Brooke unclasped the bracelet. It slipped from her wrist and lay across her palm, glittering beneath the courtroom lights.
A bailiff walked over with an evidence bag.
Brooke dropped it inside.
Then Diane said, “The earrings as well.”
Brooke’s eyes flashed.
For the first time that day, I saw the woman beneath the red dress and perfect hair. Not young. Not beautiful. Not confident.
Hungry.
She removed my pearl earrings with stiff fingers.
Thomas stared straight ahead.
He did not defend her.
He did not reach for her hand.
That was the first crack between them.
I watched it form with quiet interest.
The hearing lasted another forty minutes. Thomas’s attorney fought for delay after delay, but Diane had walked into that courtroom prepared for war. The judge granted the account freeze, ordered a forensic review of recent transfers, demanded a full inventory of property removed from my residence, and scheduled an emergency session for the following week.
When court adjourned, Thomas moved toward me.
Diane stepped between us.
“Do not speak to my client.”
Thomas ignored her.
“Eleanor,” he said.
My name in his mouth sounded like something stolen.
I looked at him.
He lowered his voice.
“You don’t want this to get uglier.”
I smiled.
“No, Thomas. I think you don’t.”
His expression twitched.
Behind him, Brooke had already taken out her phone.
She was not crying.
She was texting.
Thomas noticed too.
“Brooke,” he snapped.
She looked up with bright, furious eyes.