Chapter 17 - THE TRIAL
Andrew remained in custody.
The judge cited the Carter Tower incident, the weapon, prior threats, and violations of court orders.
For the first time since I had met him, Andrew could not decide where he went next.
Months passed.
Autumn turned into winter.
The criminal case moved slowly.
Investigators collected more evidence.
The hospital terminated Dr. Keller.
Heartwell’s board commissioned an external review that found multiple failures in handling complaints against high-profile physicians.
Andrew’s medical license was suspended pending regulatory proceedings.
Several families filed civil claims.
I returned to work, but not as Ethan’s executive assistant.
Instead, I accepted a temporary role in the Carter Foundation’s governance office.
The position had no reporting relationship to Ethan.
I wanted distance.
He gave it to me.
Sometimes too well.
We attended the same meetings and spoke only about work.
He never asked me to dinner.
Part of me was relieved.
Another part was ridiculous enough to be disappointed.
Then the trial began.
The prosecutor called Lena.
Rachel.
Camille.
Mara.
The security technician.
My mother.
Ethan.
When Ethan took the witness stand, Andrew stared at him with hatred.
The prosecutor asked Ethan what he had observed in the dressing room.
Ethan’s voice remained controlled.
“Bruising on Ms. Monroe’s upper arm, shoulder, and torso.”
“What was Ms. Monroe’s emotional condition?”
“Terrified.”
“Did she immediately accuse Dr. Vaughn?”
“No.”
“What did she say?”
“She said she fell.”
The prosecutor paused.
“What did you think?”
“I told her stairs don’t leave fingerprints.”
Andrew looked away.
Then the defense attorney stood.
“Mr. Carter, were you in love with Ms. Monroe?”
“Yes.”
The courtroom shifted.
“While she was engaged to Dr. Vaughn?”
“Yes.”
“Did you want that engagement to end?”
Ethan paused.
“I wanted Ava to be safe.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Ethan looked toward me.
Then back at the lawyer.
“Yes.”
The defense attorney smiled.
“So you had motive to destroy Dr. Vaughn.”
“No.”
“You wanted his fiancée.”
“I wanted her alive.”
The courtroom became completely silent.
Andrew’s lawyer tried again.
“You used your wealth to influence this investigation.”
“No.”
“You funded the hospital.”
“Yes.”
“You controlled the award.”
“Yes.”
“You owned the building where Ms. Monroe stayed.”
“Yes.”
“And she now works for your foundation.”
“Yes.”
The lawyer spread his hands.
“Convenient.”
Ethan did not react.
“What would have been convenient was ignoring what I saw.”
The defense attorney stopped smiling.
Three days later, I testified.
Andrew sat twenty feet away.
I thought seeing him would break me.
It did not.
He looked smaller.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
The room no longer bent around his reputation.
He was simply a defendant sitting beside counsel.
I told the jury about the first time.
The apologies.
The escalation.
The engagement.
The threats.
The gala.
The dressing room.
The protection order.
The night he came to Carter Tower.
The defense attorney asked why I had stayed.
I answered honestly.
“Because I was afraid.”
“Yet you went to work every day.”
“Yes.”
“You managed a billionaire’s schedule.”
“Yes.”
“You negotiated contracts and coordinated major international meetings.”
“Yes.”
“You expect the jury to believe a capable professional woman could not simply leave an apartment?”
I looked directly at her.
“Being capable at work did not make me immune to fear at home.”
She said nothing.
I continued.
“Andrew knew that.”
After seven hours, I stepped down.
In the hallway, Ethan was waiting.
He did not hug me.
He only asked.
“Dinner?”
I stared at him.
“Now?”
“I believe I promised to ask after everything.”
“The trial isn’t over.”
“No.”
He smiled faintly.
“But you look like someone who needs pasta.”
I laughed.
May you like
For the first time, the idea did not frighten me.
“Yes.”
