Chapter 9
The first hearing happened three days later.
Calla did not testify in open court.
Nina insisted on a private child advocate interview.
For once, I listened to the expert.
But Calla wanted to be in the building.
She wore a yellow sweater and held Elise’s hand on one side, mine on the other.
People stared.
They had read the headlines by then.
Fiancée Accused of Locking Mother in Pool House.
Custody Scheme Under Investigation.
Heiress Child Targeted.
I hated every headline.
Calla was not a headline.
She was a little girl who still asked if the hallway light could stay on.
Drea arrived in a navy dress, no handcuffs visible.
Her lawyer had made her look soft.
Innocent.
Almost wounded.
When she saw Calla holding Elise’s hand, her mouth tightened.
Then she looked at me and smiled sadly.
Like we were both victims of Elise.
My skin crawled.
In court, Drea’s lawyer argued she had acted out of panic.
He said Elise had appeared without warning.
He said Drea feared for Calla’s safety.
Then Nina played the backyard footage.
Drea dragging Elise.
Elise collapsing.
Drea unlocking the pool house.
Drea pushing her inside.
Drea wiping her hands on her dress.
The courtroom went silent.
Drea lowered her eyes.
Not in shame.
In calculation.
Then Nina played Calla’s recording.
“If you knock again, I’ll tell Mason you came drunk and tried to scare Calla.”
Drea’s lawyer asked for a recess.
The judge denied it.
Grant Holloway’s statement came next.
Forgery.
Financial planning.
Custody strategy.
Trust access.
By the end, the judge issued protective orders against Drea and Grant.
No contact.
No access.
No communication through others.
No approach within five hundred feet of Calla, Elise, or me.
Outside the courtroom, Drea snapped.
“You think she came back for love?” she hissed at me. “She came back for money.”
Elise flinched.
Calla did not.
My daughter stepped forward before I could stop her.
“You locked my mom in a dark room,” she said. “You don’t get to talk about love.”
Drea’s face twisted.
“You ungrateful little—”
The bailiff moved.
Drea stopped.
Calla stepped back between us.
Her hand found mine.
It was shaking.
May you like
But she had spoken.
And Drea had heard her.
