Semua Bab Divorcing my dead sister’s husband : Bab 21 - Bab 30

"Remember, just tell the truth."Sam nods, but his hand shakes as he grips mine in the courthouse hallway. He's wearing the navy blue shirt we picked out yesterday, his hair combed neatly to the side, and he looks impossibly young."What if I forget what to say?""Then you take a breath and remember. The judge isn't trying to trick you. He wants to understand what happened."Margaret appears beside us, checking her watch. "They're ready for us."I squeeze Sam's hand one more time. "I'll be right there, okay? If you get scared, just look at me."The courtroom is smaller than I expected, more like a conference room than the dramatic spaces you see on TV. Alex sits at a table with two lawyers, his posture perfect, his expression carefully neutral. But when his eyes meet mine across the room, I see the fury simmering underneath.Thomas slips into the gallery behind us, giving me a small nod. I'd told him he didn't need to come, but he'd insisted."The court calls Samuel Harrison."Sam wal

The notification popped up on Daniela's phone while I was making Sam's lunch for school. *Harrison CEO Under Investigation for Securities Fraud*—Channel 7 News.My hands stilled on the peanut butter jar. I clicked the link, and Alex's face filled my screen. It was his professional headshot, the one from his company's website, but something about seeing it in this context made my stomach lurch."Harrison Industries is facing allegations of misleading investors about the company's financial status and prospects," the reporter's voice-over continued. "The Securities and Exchange Commission has opened a formal investigation into the tech firm's accounting practices and executive compensation packages."Sam appeared at her elbow, backpack slung over his shoulder. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost.""Nothing," I said quickly, closing the news app. It's just work stuff. Are you ready for school?""Is it about Dad?" Sam's voice was careful like he was testing the waters.There

The courthouse steps are swarming with reporters, but I barely notice them as Margaret and I walk toward the entrance. Sam's hand is small and warm in mine, and he's wearing his best button-down shirt—the one Thomas helped him pick out this morning."Are you ready for this?" Margaret asks.I'm not sure anyone can be ready for a moment like this, but I nod anyway. "Let's get it over with."Inside, the courtroom feels different than it did during the custody hearing. More formal somehow, more final. Alex isn't here—he's still in federal custody awaiting his fraud trial—but his presence lingers like smoke in the air.Judge takes his seat, and the room falls silent. Sam squeezes my hand tighter."In the matter of Reyes versus Harrison," the judge begins, "this court has reviewed all testimony, evidence, and recent developments in the criminal case against Mr. Harrison."My heart pounds so hard I'm sure everyone can hear it."Given Mr. Harrison's current incarceration on federal charges, h

I'm crying now, full-on ugly crying, and I can't seem to stop."I know it's a lot," Thomas says, looking suddenly uncertain. "And if you need time—""Yes," I choke out."Yes?""Yes, I'll marry you. Yes to all of it."He slides the ring onto my finger with shaking hands, and then he's kissing me and I'm kissing him back and laughing and crying all at the same time."Are you sure?" he asks against my lips. "Because once you say yes, you're stuck with me. And my terrible dad jokes. And my obsession with baseball statistics.""I'm sure," I say, and for the first time in my life, I am.We sit there holding each other as the sun sets completely, and I study the ring on my finger. It catches the light from the fire pit, sending little sparkles across the deck."When did you know?" I ask. "That you wanted to marry me?""Honestly? The first time I saw you was with Sam. The way you protected him, even when you were scared. The way you put his needs above your own, always. I knew I wanted to be

"I think I'm going to throw up," I tell Thomas, staring at the stack of wedding magazines Janet dropped off this morning."From excitement or terror?" he asks, not looking up from his laptop where he's supposedly working but reading baseball stats."Both. Neither. I don't know."Sam bounces into the living room carrying his soccer ball. "Are we picking flowers today? Aunt Janet said we need flowers for the wedding.""We're not picking anything today," I say, maybe a little too sharply. Sam's face falls, and I immediately feel guilty. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'm just a little overwhelmed.""What does that mean?""It means there are too many choices and my brain is tired," I explain, patting the couch beside me. He climbs up and leans against my shoulder."Like when we went to the grocery store and you stood in the cereal aisle for ten minutes?"Thomas snorts. "Exactly like that.""That was different. There are forty-seven different types of cereal. Who needs forty-seven types of cereal