Chapter 6: The Court of Public Opinion
Chapter 6: The Court of Public Opinion
The following weeks were a masterclass in psychological warfare. Vanessa took to daytime television, wearing a modest, pale pink dress, dabbing at perfectly dry eyes. She sat on a plush sofa opposite a famous talk show host, weaving a tragic tale of a man who panicked at the altar and abandoned her, leaving her to pick up the broken pieces of her heart.
"I loved his daughter as my own," Vanessa told the cameras, her voice breaking perfectly on cue. "It breaks my heart that he's keeping me from her. I just hope they're both getting the professional help they need."
Liam watched the broadcast from his office, his jaw clenched so tight his teeth ached. His company's stock had taken a minor hit, and a few minor investors had pulled out, spooked by the bad press. But Liam refused to retaliate in the media. He spent every evening playing board games with Lily, reading her extra stories, and ensuring she felt entirely secure and loved.
Behind the scenes, Marcus was moving with lethal efficiency. The subpoena for the country club's security footage had been heavily fought by the Sterling family's lawyers, which only confirmed Liam's suspicion: the footage existed, and it was damning.
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After a grueling three-week legal tug-of-war, a judge finally ordered the club to hand over the hard drives. Marcus called Liam at 11:00 PM on a Tuesday.
"We got it," Marcus said, his voice tight with anticipation. "And Liam? It's worse than you thought."
