Chapter 13 - KHLOE TAKES THE STAND

The courthouse fell silent when Khloe entered.
She wore a simple black dress and walked with a cane. A pale scar crossed her temple. Harrison stayed one step behind her, close enough to catch her but careful not to make her look weak.
Reporters crowded the hallway.
Vanessa was brought in wearing jail clothes.
Evelyn arrived in handcuffs and pearls.
Richard appeared by video from the hospital.
The new judge, Amelia Ross, took the bench after federal authorities removed Pryce.
Harrison began with the trust.
He presented the original documents, bank records, passports prepared for the baby, and footage from the hidden medical suite.
Then Khloe testified.
“Mrs. Cole-Harrington,” opposing counsel said, “you were emotionally distressed on the courthouse steps, correct?”
“I was eight months pregnant and being threatened by my husband’s mistress.”
“Did you raise your hand toward Ms. Kensington?”
“Yes.”
A murmur moved through the room.
“What were you doing?”
Khloe looked at Vanessa.
“I was holding up my phone because she demanded it. I told her the evidence had already been copied.”
The full livestream video played.
It showed Khloe stepping back.
It showed Vanessa grabbing for the phone.
It showed Richard whispering, “Take it.”
Then Vanessa shoved.
The courtroom erupted.
Vanessa turned toward Richard’s screen. “You said there was no audio!”
Harrison stood. “Thank you, Ms. Kensington.”
Her attorney buried his face in his hands.
Khloe continued.
“My husband did not push me. He only told her to take the evidence. He only watched me fall. He only helped arrange the hospital attack, the kidnapping, the theft of my daughter’s trust, and the destruction of financial records.”
Richard shouted from the screen, “I saved Lily from my mother!”
Khloe faced him.
“You saved her once after helping endanger her a hundred times.”
The judge terminated Richard’s temporary parental rights and returned control of the trust to Khloe under court supervision.
For the first time in weeks, Harrison exhaled.
Then a court clerk handed Morales a note.
She read it and walked quickly to Harrison.
“Peter Voss, the fake nurse, has been found.”
“Alive?”
“Barely. He gave us the name of the person who paid him.”
“Evelyn?”
Morales shook her head.
“No. Your father.”
May you like
Harrison stared at her.
Their father had been dead for eight years.