Lahat ng Kabanata ng Step Aside, dear ex: Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

Quentin’s POVQuentin Palmer never threw things.It was the original deception people had made about him that he was angry and loud, sloppy and reckless. It didn’t. Anger sharpened him. It slackened his movements, reduced his vision, divested everything that was not necessary.That is why, when the call came, when his lawyer altered his intonation in the middle of a sentence, Quentin did not raise his voice. He didn’t curse. He didn’t even interrupt.He listened.Luke had provided a sworn statement.Luke had broken rank.Quentin terminated the call in a polite manner and assured to go through the documents and laid the phone down with caution. Sitting in his office, looking the city a mile beyond the glass wall, he sat very still as the map which he had previously possessed had.Luke.Of all people.At one point Quentin had thought that his brother could never cross him because Luke did not agree with all that he did but did not like enmity as much as he did injustice. The only langua

Thora’s POV The court was red with the odor of old documents and floors. It was the first thing I saw, and not the cameras around the outside, or the whispers which followed us. Only that dusty stuffy smell that everything seemed to stay. Such decisions made here not melted when you went out. My attorney was striding purposefully in front of me, half a stride in advance, and her heels toiled the marble with assurance which I appropriated through being near her. I stood my ground, kept my breath under check. Inside, I was vibrating. You do not look at the gallery you do not, she said without turning. “You look at me. Or the judge. No one else exists.” I nodded. But I felt them. Reporters. Observers. It was not the life of a person, strangers, acting as such. Someone’s child. We entered when Luke had already been seated. In court he appeared other than he had been looking good in the daylight. His lips made a tight and he did not avert his gaze. That alone stea

Quentin’s POVThey think I’m angry.That’s the mistake.Anger is messy.Anger reacts.I do neither.I adjust.The courtroom smells faintly of paper and old wood polish. I’ve always liked rooms like this. Order. Structure. Rules that can be bent if you know where to press.Luke sits behind her.Not beside her.Not touching her.But aligned.That detail matters.He won’t realize how much it matters yet.He still thinks this is about conscience.It isn’t.It’s about leverage.“Mr. Palmer, you may take the stand.”I rise without hesitation.The walk to the witness chair is measured — not slow, not rushed. Every movement communicates something whether people realize it or not.Control is perception.Perception is power.I sit.Swear the oath.The prosecutor approaches.“Mr. Palmer, did you authorize the transfer of funds on March 18th?”“Yes.”A small ripple moves through the room.Good.Let them think that was easy.“Under what authority?”“Executive contingency protocol.”“And who approv

Quentin’s POVI don’t panic.I calculate.That’s the difference between men who survive storms and men who drown in them.By the time I step into my office the next morning, the skyline is pale and unforgiving. The city looks clean from this height.It always does.My assistant meets me at the door.“You have three missed calls from the Board Chair,” she says.Interesting.“He didn’t leave a message?”“No.”I nod once.“Hold everything for twenty minutes.”She hesitates. “The prosecutor’s office also requested an updated financial breakdown. Expanded range.”Of course they did.“How expanded?”“Backdated to December.”There it is.I don’t react.“You can go.”The door shuts behind her.And the silence changes.December.That date has weight.Not because of the transfer.Because of the agreement.Agreements are not illegal.They are interpretations.And interpretations are survivable.Unless—Unless someone reframes them.I sit at my desk and open the internal security dashboard.No br

Thora’s POVI don’t sleep.Not fully.I drift in and out of half-dreams where numbers rearrange themselves into accusations and signatures blur into faces.When my phone vibrates at 6:12 a.m., I’m already awake.Unknown number.I answer immediately.“Ms. Greenwood?” a calm male voice asks.“Yes.”“This is Assistant District Attorney Reynolds.”So it’s official now.My spine straightens instinctively.“I assume this is about December,” I say.A pause.“December,” he repeats carefully. “And before.”Before.The word settles differently.“Can you come in?” he asks. “There’s someone here you need to hear.”The prosecutor’s office smells like paper and coffee and long nights.When I step inside the conference room, Luke is already there.He looks pale.Not surprised.Just bracing.Across the table—A woman I’ve never met.Mid-thirties. Quiet posture. Steady eyes.She doesn’t look dramatic.She looks observant.“Mara Hale,” Reynolds says. “Compliance.”The missing variable.She nods once at