Chapter 7 - THE TALE OF TWO FATHERS
The morning of the court hearing was cold and grey. I walked Nora to the school gate, watching her small figure disappear toward her classroom, and then drove to the courthouse, my heart a hammer against my ribs.
I saw my father-in-law in the lobby—Claire’s father. He was a man who had never believed in me, always seeing me as an intruder in his daughter’s life. He looked at me with open disgust.
"You're ruining her life, David," he whispered as I walked past. "She’s worked so hard to build her reputation, and you’re destroying it over a simple accident."
"An accident is a broken glass, not a broken bone," I said, not slowing down. "Your daughter is a predator, and she found out that this time, she picked the wrong prey."
He looked stunned, unable to comprehend the defiance in my voice. I kept walking, straight toward the courtroom doors. My lawyer was already inside, and the judge, a man known for his fair but firm rulings, was already seated on the bench.
"The court will come to order," the bailiff shouted.
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The air in the room was dense, a mix of old wood and the scent of expensive perfume that Claire had left behind. She sat at the defendant's table, looking every bit the part of the victim, her eyes red, her shoulders slumped. She looked like she was about to start crying at any moment.
But I had the paper trail. I had the truth. And I was ready.
