Glenda smiles at the judge. “It is, I promise.”
“Overruled. Proceed.”
Willow blinks. “Um .?.?. enough to pay rent, not much more.”
“Ah yes.” She grabs her papers. “And who did that rental apartment belong to?”
“It was arental, so the landlord.” She grins tightly.
“Of course. Was the lease under your name?”
Willow takes a breath, unrattled. “No. It was my ex-boyfriend’s.”
Glenda nods, pacing in front of the stand. “The ex-boyfriend who terminated the lease a few days after you arrived at Blue River Springs, is that right?”
There’s a beat before Willow answers, her expression even. “I wouldn’t know, I don’t talk to him.”
Noah nods his approval.
“What kind of questioning is this?” I lean in and whisper. “What does this have to do with me or Ellie?”
“Give her a minute,” Noah mutters, staring ahead.
“I see,” Glenda continues, like she’s trying to work out a thought in her head. “So you don’t make that much money, but submitted a homebuyer interest form for .?.?.” she checks her notes, “the Lakeview Estates.”
What? Where the hell is that?
Willow blinks a few times, shoulders stiff. My eyes drop to her throat, working with a swallow.
“It’s a yes or no question, Ms. Brooks.”
She takes a breath, eyes sweeping over mine briefly. “Yes.”
“Can we ask why?”
“Objection, irrelevant,” Noah calls out,finally.
“Sustained. Please limit your questioning to the case.”
“I’ll just get to my point,” Glenda confirms.
The judge rolls her eyes.
“The Lakeview Estates.” Glenda spins to face the court. “Which, by the way, is a beautiful new community out in the suburbs of Long Island, New York—starts athalf a milliondollars. How does someone who makesjustenough for rent, afford that?”
Willow glares at her. Face pale.
I snap, turning to Noah. “Shouldn’t you be saying something here?”
He ignores me.
Glenda gives up on an answer and moves on. “I’ll rephrase as a yes or no question since you seem confused.”
Heat floods my chest.
“Is it true that your grandmother left you an inheritance of five hundred thousand dollars?”
“Yes.”
