“How nice. And were there conditions?”
Willow’s chest rises and falls. Face pale, barely breathing. “Yes.”
“Will you tell the court what they are?”
I tear my eyes off my wife to look at my attorney. “What the hell is going on?”
Willow’s voice trembles. “I would get the money when I turned twenty-eight.”
“Well, says here you’re twenty-four. Is that theonlycondition?” Glenda presses and I’m just about tired of her voice.
Willow looks at me with a hard swallow. “No. When I turn twenty-eight or .?.?. when there is a legal marriage.”
“Which you did last week, sothat’sconvenient for you too, isn’t it? Now you can buy that lovely-looking house on the East Coast.”
Willow shakes her head at the woman in front of her. “How did you .?.?.”
Glenda holds up her papers. “It becomes public when the money is distributed. Which it was—” she looks down, “—three days ago.”
“No, I didn’t—” Willow cries.
“Are you saying it wasn’t withdrawn?”
Willow’s lips tremble, eyes pooling. “Well, yes, but—”
“No further questions.”
Willow’s eyes meet mine and for the first time in weeks, I can’t read her. I can barely read the look I’m giving her because I’m shaking with the urge to whisk her off the stand—and the urge to walk out of here for some air.
I lower my eyes. “This what you were trying to tell me?”
“Counsel?” The judge calls Noah.
He stands. “No questions, your honor.”
Judge Walker turns to Willow. “You may step down.”
Willow mouths an apology to me then takes a seat in the back.
Minutes later, I lose custody of Ellie after the authenticity of my marriage, my character, and, somehow, Ellie’s safety on my ranch is questioned.
Noah packs up his briefcase. “This isn’t over. I’ll get it appealed. Evidence of Willow’s intentions were held back.”
I stand, buttoning my jacket. “Get it appealed.Do notbring Willow into it.”
“Dallas, you lost custody because of her—”
“I lost because ofyou. If you knew, you should have done something. Instead of letting my wife get eaten alive up there.”
He turns to me, stunned. “Were you in the room?”
I stalk away to the back of the courtroom to catch Glenda and Cole before they leave. I see them making their way out the courtroom doors.
Willow catches my wrist. “Dallas,” her breath stutters, barely audible over the noise. “I’m so sorry, I—”
Gently, I push her hand down. “Not now, Willow.” I make my way through the crowd, catching Cole and Glenda muttering low just outside the door.
Pulse pounding, eyes locked, I storm over. “This was between you and me, Hartly,” I roar inches from his face. “Nother. Mark my words, I will get my daughter back. But youeverattack my wife again, I’ll make sure you’re so far off the page, you don’texist.”
