“Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, I’m happy to see that you took my suggestions the last few months and lived together like real married couples do. I’ve also heard that you attended monthly marriage counseling as I asked. Your counselor reported back that you both demonstrated positive progress and effort toward your marriage during this time. Because of your compliance and willingness to take the court’s advice, it is my determination that the good-faith portion of the marriage spelled out in the trust has been met. The remainder of the inheritance is hereby approved for release and no other payments need to be repaid. This hearing is adjourned.” The judge strikes the gavel, ending the meeting just after it started.
“That’s it?” Hess asks.
“We did everything the judge asked of us, and it paid off.”
“But that was so anticlimactic.”
“Were you hoping for more?”
“I’m always hoping for more.” He leans close, a crooked grin tugging at his mouth. “So we’re not frauds after all?”
“Not today.” I clean up my files, keeping an eye on Glen as he speaks with his attorney. The last thing I want is to walk out with him and be forced to speak, especially since I’ve never spoken to him in my life. The confident woman who visited his office six years ago no longer exists. Glen’s mind games have broken her.
I place my purse strap on my shoulder and turn to leave. Hess follows after, trying to keep up.
“Should we stop at the Waffle House? Get some dinner? Or I could make you pancakes at home.”
I forge ahead to the parking lot. “Um, let’s just go home.”
“Hey.” He pulls on my arm, stopping me. “Are you okay? You seem rattled.”
I glance to the side just to make sure I won’t be ambushed by Glen. “Yeah, I’m just glad that’s over.”
Hess smiles, but there’s still concern behind his eyes. “As long as you’re okay.”
“Yep.” I step in the direction of my car. “I’ll see you at home.”
Our paths split, his truck one way, my car the other. I’m almost to the driver’s side when a voice stops me cold.
“Well, if it isn’t Camila. That’s your name, right?”
I turn slowly, feeling a small sting that he pretends not to know my name. I’m sure that was his intention.
Glen stands there, hands in his pockets, eyes sharp with disdain. “You’re the spitting image of your mother.”
There’s a brief thought of Rosa Jiménez, the woman, not the mom. I’ve always wondered how she could be so dumb to fall for such a snake of a guy, but I understand a few of the dynamics now. She was young, barely nineteen. Glen was rich, handsome, and much older. He was her boss. There was a clear powerimbalance that I’m sure he used on her, just like he’s doing to me right now. For someone whom I’ve never met, the control this man has over me is powerful. I can’t even imagine what it was like for my mom.
“What a win today.” He slow claps. “I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” He snickers as his eyes flick up and down, as if he’s judging every square inch of me. “Like your mother, you’re good at finding men to bankroll your life. You did well pretending to love this guy so you could cash in your check from me.” He glances around the parking lot. “Maybe I should warn him not to fall for your family games. I know firsthand how your mother used me.”
“You don’t know me or my mom. You lost the right to speak about us the second you abandoned us.” My voice—my always-steady, courtroom voice—crumbles, coming out weak.
“It’s hard to abandon a woman who used me to get money. She’s a manipulator, and you’re no better than her. Isn’t that what you’re doing with this guy? Using him for your own monetary gain? It’s only a matter of time until he sees who and what you really are: conniving trash.”
The words pierce, stripping me bare. My throat closes. I want to fight back, but there’s nothing I can say. He’s right about me. I did use Hess.
He steps closer, filling my space. “In fact, now that I think about it, I never saw the paternity test your mom said she had. For all I know, Rosa is lying. Knowing your mother, I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re not even mine.”
My lips tremble as I open my mouth to speak.
“Get away from my wife!” Hess growls, rushing toward us. He’s all heat and fury as one strong hand grips Glen’s shirtfront, dragging him away from me. “I never want to see you talk to my wife again.”
Glen blinks, startled, his smirk slipping as he cowers back. The wordwifehangs in the air, sharp as a blade.
“Relax.” His palms go up. “Camila is my daughter.”
“No, she’s not any part of you. Camila is mine. If I ever hear you breathe her name again, I’ll destroy you. Do we understand each other?” Hess barks.
Glen laughs, masking the anxiety written across his face.
