Chapter 12 - The Courtroom Trap
The emergency hearing took place three days later.
News of the Morgan wedding scandal had already leaked online.
Photographs showed Rachel leaving the reception with Ellie.
Other photographs showed Vanessa holding her cheek.
Headlines speculated wildly.
Heiress Attacks Bride.
Billionaire Wedding Ends in Chaos.
Mystery Child Hidden During Reception.
Rachel hated all of them.
The court dispute only intensified attention.
Crescent Capital's attorneys argued that Margaret was heavily medicated when she signed the trust.
Therefore, they claimed, the North Harbor land options were invalid.
Rachel's attorney, Karen, challenged their standing.
“Crescent Capital is not a beneficiary.”
Their lawyer smiled.
“We are a party with contractual interests harmed by potentially invalid title claims.”
The judge allowed limited evidence.
Helena sat behind the Crescent attorneys.
She wore navy.
Calm.
Perfect.
Vanessa was absent.
Daniel sat beside Rachel.
Their attorneys had advised them to present a united business position.
Rachel could feel photographers waiting outside.
The opposing attorney called a medical expert.
He reviewed Margaret's hospital records.
“Mrs. Morgan was receiving pain medication.”
“Yes.”
“Could that medication affect judgment?”
“Yes.”
Rachel's stomach tightened.
Then Karen cross-examined.
“Doctor, was Margaret Morgan declared legally incapacitated?”
“No.”
“Did she sign the trust in the hospital?”
The doctor checked.
“No.”
“When did she sign it?”
“Approximately three weeks before hospitalization.”
Karen nodded.
“Was she taking the same medication then?”
“No.”
Helena's expression changed slightly.
Rachel noticed.
Karen continued.
“Would you describe Margaret Morgan as mentally incompetent three weeks before hospitalization?”
“No.”
The Crescent attorney objected.
Too late.
The damage was done.
Then they introduced the affidavit.
Purportedly signed by Margaret's physician.
It stated Margaret had experienced confusion during the month before hospitalization.
Karen examined the signature.
Then looked at Rachel.
Something was wrong.
She requested a recess.
Outside the courtroom, Pierce handed them a document.
“The doctor's signature is real.”
Daniel frowned.
“That hurts us.”
“No.”
Pierce pointed to the date.
“The affidavit was notarized on May nineteenth.”
“So?”
“The doctor was attending a conference in Switzerland that entire week.”
Rachel stared.
“Could he have signed electronically?”
“Not according to the affidavit.”
Pierce smiled.
“It says he appeared personally before the notary.”
Karen immediately understood.
“The notary is lying.”
They searched the name.
Rachel's stomach dropped.
The notary was Evan Collins's sister.
When court resumed, Karen called for authentication.
The judge's expression hardened as inconsistencies appeared.
Crescent's attorney requested withdrawal of the affidavit.
Karen objected.
“No.”
The judge agreed.
The document would remain in the record.
A potentially fraudulent filing had just become evidence.
Helena's composure finally cracked.
She whispered to her attorney.
The judge denied Crescent's emergency request.
Rachel's trust remained valid pending further proceedings.
Outside, reporters surrounded them.
Daniel protected Ellie from the cameras.
Rachel gave no comment.
Then a reporter shouted,
“Mr. Morgan, is your marriage already over?”
Daniel stopped.
Rachel looked at him.
He could have ignored it.
Instead, he answered.
“Yes.”
The crowd erupted.
Another reporter yelled,
“Are you reconciling with Rachel?”
Rachel almost laughed.
Daniel looked at her.
“No.”
Rachel raised an eyebrow.
Daniel continued.
“We are parents.”
“Business partners.”
“And nothing about our daughter's life will be discussed as entertainment.”
Rachel appreciated the answer.
They reached the vehicle.
Ellie climbed inside.
Then Rachel noticed Vanessa across the street.
Alone.
She looked exhausted.
No makeup.
No wedding glamour.
Rachel hesitated.
Vanessa walked toward them.
Daniel immediately stepped forward.
“What are you doing here?”
Vanessa looked at Rachel.
“I need to talk to her.”
“No.”
Rachel surprised him.
“I'll listen.”
Daniel stared.
“Rachel.”
“She came alone.”
Pierce checked the surroundings.
“Five minutes.”
They moved into a private side room at Karen's office.
Vanessa sat across from Rachel.
Her hands trembled.
“I know you hate me.”
Rachel said nothing.
“You should.”
Still nothing.
Vanessa swallowed.
“I didn't know Helena was going to use Ellie.”
Rachel's eyes hardened.
“You did.”
“No.”
“You hid her under a table.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“I know.”
“Then don't tell me you didn't use her.”
“I was jealous.”
Rachel stared.
“Of a child?”
“Of what she represented.”
Vanessa's voice cracked.
“Daniel loved her without condition.”
Rachel felt no sympathy yet.
Vanessa continued.
“I thought if the wedding looked perfect, maybe Helena would finally believe I could handle things.”
“There it is.”
Rachel leaned forward.
“Helena.”
Vanessa began crying.
Not theatrically.
Quietly.
“She raised me.”
Rachel frowned.
“Our mother worked all the time.”
“Helena paid my tuition.”
“My apartment.”
“Everything.”
“She always said I owed her.”
Rachel's anger shifted.
Not disappeared.
Shifted.
“What did you agree to?”
Vanessa looked at her.
“To marry Daniel.”
Rachel waited.
“And?”
“To copy business files.”
“And?”
Vanessa looked down.
“To convince him to change his will.”
Rachel went still.
“To what?”
“To leave most of his company interest to me if something happened.”
Rachel felt cold.
“Did he?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because he refused to reduce Ellie's inheritance.”
Rachel looked away.
Vanessa whispered.
“That is when Helena became angry.”
Then she removed a tiny USB drive from her purse.
“I kept everything.”
Rachel stared.
“Everything what?”
“Messages.”
“Payments.”
“Instructions.”
“Why?”
Vanessa's eyes filled again.
“Because somewhere along the way, I stopped pretending.”
Rachel understood.
“You fell in love with him.”
Vanessa nodded.
“And then you hid his daughter.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“I know.”
Rachel did not soften.
“Love doesn't erase what you did.”
“I know.”
She pushed the drive across the table.
“But maybe this keeps Helena from doing worse.”
Rachel picked it up.
“Why give it to me?”
Vanessa looked toward the door where Daniel waited.
“Because he won't believe me anymore.”
Rachel stood.
“He shouldn't.”
She walked toward the door.
Vanessa stopped her.
“Rachel.”
Rachel turned.
“There's one file you need to open first.”
“What file?”
May you like
Vanessa's face turned pale.
“The one marked Wedding.”
