Wade smiled.
It was the smile of a man who had spent his entire life assuming that if he wanted something badly enough, he could buy it.
“Fine,” he said. “We’ll see everyone in front of Judge Pruitt.”
Ray stood up.
He wasn’t particularly tall, but the moment he rose, the entire hallway seemed to belong to him.
“Bring Judge Pruitt,” he said. “Bring your lawyer, too. I’ll bring March fourteenth.”
Wade’s smile remained in place.
But something changed in his eyes.
He glanced at his son.
Tyler looked away.
Then the performance ended.
“She was a liar!” Tyler spat. “She lied about everything. She was always…”
My mother rose from her chair.
She was shaking, but her voice was steady.
“Say one more word about my daughter.”
Tyler stared at her.
For the first time that morning, he had nothing to say.
Security escorted him, his father, and their lawyer back toward the elevator.
