Chapter 5 - The Bail Hearing
The courthouse was completely swarmed by reporters when the bail hearing finally arrived.
I walked up the stone steps holding Liam’s hand tightly, flanked by four private security guards I had hired.
My father had hired the most expensive, ruthless defense attorney in the state.
They were expecting to post a multimillion-dollar bond and walk out to fight the charges from their mansions.
I sat in the front row of the gallery, staring holes into the backs of their orange jumpsuits.
The judge, a stern-looking woman with no patience for nonsense, reviewed the case files.
Richard's lawyer stood up, buttoning his expensive suit jacket.
“Your Honor, my client is a pillar of the community and a major job creator.”
“This is a tragic family misunderstanding blown out of proportion by an estranged daughter.”
“We request bail be set at one million dollars.”
The judge looked over her reading glasses at the defense attorney.
“Counselor, I have watched a video of your client physically preventing a mother from rescuing a drowning child.”
“I also have a toxicology report showing that child was given enough sedatives to drop a horse.”
“Furthermore, the prosecution has just entered a motive regarding a seventy-million-dollar trust fund.”
Richard's face drained of all color as the trust fund was mentioned on the public record.
He turned around and locked eyes with me, realizing I had found his secret.
“Bail is denied for both defendants,” the judge announced loudly, banging her gavel.
“They are clear flight risks and a danger to the victims.”
Chloe immediately collapsed into loud, dramatic sobs, begging the judge for mercy.
“I didn't know about the money, I just wanted a perfect wedding!” she wailed.
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Richard hissed at her to shut up, but the damage was already done.
The guards hauled them back to the holding cells, leaving their expensive lawyer looking utterly defeated.
