Chapter 3 - DIANE’S FIRST MOVE
Diane arrived at the courthouse the following morning wearing sunglasses and a cream-colored suit.
She walked past me without saying hello.
Claire followed behind her.
Mark was nowhere to be seen.
David leaned toward me.
“Don't engage.”
“I won't.”
We entered the courtroom.
The judge reviewed the emergency filings.
Mark's attorney argued that I had abandoned the marital home.
David calmly produced the trust documents.
The judge's eyebrows rose.
“Who owns the residence?”
“The Bennett Family Trust, Your Honor.”
Mark's attorney hesitated.
The judge looked at me.
“And you are the beneficiary?”
“Yes.”
Mark's attorney cleared his throat.
“Technically, Your Honor—”
“There is nothing technical about ownership,” the judge replied.
Diane shifted in her chair.
For the first time, her confidence disappeared.
The judge granted temporary exclusive use of the house to me.
Then came custody.
Mark's attorney attempted to portray me as unstable.
David played the video.
It was security footage from the birthday party.
The cake falling.
Emma crying.
Diane saying:
“No son, no celebration.”
Then Mark's voice.
“She’s right.”
The courtroom went silent.
The judge watched the entire clip.
Then she looked at Mark.
“Mr. Mercer, did you make that statement?”
Mark swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“My mother was upset.”
“That wasn't my question.”
He stared at the floor.
“I don't know.”
The judge leaned back.
“You have a ten-year-old daughter.”
“Yes.”
“And you agreed that her birthday should not be celebrated because she is not male?”
Mark's attorney objected.
David responded.
The judge overruled.
Mark finally whispered:
“Yes.”
The judge's expression hardened.
“I will consider that statement when determining temporary custody.”
Diane suddenly stood.
“This is ridiculous!”
The bailiff told her to sit.
Diane ignored him.
“She manipulated him!”
I turned.
“Me?”
Diane pointed at me.
“You've been poisoning my son against his family for years!”
The judge looked directly at her.
“Mrs. Mercer, sit down.”
Diane sat.
But she wasn't finished.
Outside the courtroom, she cornered me.
“You think you won?”
“No.”
I looked at her.
“I think my daughters deserve better.”
She stepped closer.
“You don't know what you're dealing with.”
“I know exactly what I'm dealing with.”
“You're going to lose everything.”
I smiled.
“That's what people say when they're afraid.”
Her face went pale.
Then Claire appeared.
“Mom.”
Diane turned.
“Not here.”
Claire looked nervous.
“There's something you need to know.”
Diane's eyes narrowed.
“What?”
Claire glanced at me.
Then at David.
“I think Emily already knows.”
I frowned.
“What?”
Claire swallowed.
“About the account.”
Diane grabbed her arm.
“Shut up.”
That was enough.
David looked at me.
“Which account?”
Claire's face went white.
Diane dragged her away.
But the damage was done.
I returned to the car.
“David?”
“Yes?”
“Find every account connected to Diane.”
“I will.”
“And Claire.”
He nodded.
“Everything.”
That evening, we discovered something unexpected.
The money wasn't simply going to Diane.
It was being transferred from Mercer Construction into an offshore account.
The account beneficiary wasn't Diane.
It wasn't Claire.
It wasn't Mark.
It belonged to someone named:
Jonathan Reed.
David stared at the screen.
“Do you know that name?”
I shook my head.
“No.”
May you like
He leaned back.
“I think we're about to find out.”
