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Chapter Ten: Her Terms

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The email was brief. Clinical. Strategically cold.

To: Callum Braxton

Subject: Final Appearance – Merrick v. Braxton

Date: Monday, 10:30 AM

Location: Family Court, Valmere

Kindly arrive on time. I will not reschedule.

– Isla Merrick

There was no anger in the message.

No emotion at all.

That’s what rattled him most.

Monday came too quickly.

Callum sat in the backseat of his town car, watching the courthouse grow larger with every turn. His driver said something, but Callum didn’t register the words. He was already somewhere else.

In his head.

In the hallway where Isla had handed over her ring like it weighed nothing.

In Leah’s study, her words echoing:

"She doesn’t hate you. She survived you."

The courtroom was quiet when he entered.

Sunlight streamed through the high arched windows, slicing across rows of pews and polished floors. It was a place built for endings.

And Isla was already there.

She sat at the far end of the bench, her posture perfect, her chin lifted. Dressed in a deep
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