Divorced, Now Watch Me Rise! のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 121 - チャプター 130

CLAIRE"I'm fine," I told Detective Rodriguez.Julian stood beside me, his hand on my lower back."The preliminary hearing is in three weeks," Detective Rodriguez said. "We'll contact you before then with details.""Okay," I replied.We walked toward the courtroom exit and immediately reporters started shouting from the hallway. Marcus appeared, creating a path through the crowd."Ms. Cross, will you reconsider the charges?""Do you feel any sympathy for Vanessa's situation?""What about the baby?"I kept walking, my head high, my face calm. Julian stayed close, his presence steady and grounding.We made it outside where more cameras waited on the courthouse steps. Flash after flash, questions shouted over each other. I didn't answer any of them.Marcus opened the car door and I slid inside, Julian right behind me, the door closed and the noise cut off immediately. Marcus got in the driver's seat and pulled away from the courthouse.I stared out the window, watching the building fade

CLAIRE"What kind of quantities are we talking about?" I asked, keeping my voice steady."We'd start with twenty pieces per store," David explained. "Three hundred total units for the initial order."I did the quick math in my head, three hundred pieces at my current retail price would be substantial revenue."Production timeline?" Jennifer asked."I can have three hundred pieces ready in five weeks," I said confidently. "My production team can scale up to meet the deadline.""Quality control?" David pressed."Every piece is inspected before shipping," I assured him. "I've built relationships with quality suppliers and my production manager oversees everything personally."Sarah leaned forward. "Marketing-wise, we'd want to feature you in our emerging designers campaign," she said. "Online and in-store signage, social media features, possibly an event at our flagship location.""I'd love that," I said.Jennifer pulled out a contract. "Here's what we're proposing," she said, sliding it

CLAIRE David joined us on the courthouse steps. "Jury looks fair," he observed. "Good mix, prosecution did well.""What happens this afternoon?" I asked."Opening statements," David explained. "Prosecution lays out their case, defense presents their theory, then witness testimony starts tomorrow.""When will they call Julian?" I asked."Wednesday or Thursday most likely," David replied. "Depends on how fast the other witnesses go."Julian nodded, his face pale. "Let's get lunch," I suggested.We found a quiet diner two blocks away and ordered sandwiches none of us really wanted. David reviewed his notes while we ate, occasionally making comments about the jury selection.Julian barely touched his food, just moved it around his plate. I ate mechanically, tasting nothing.At one forty-five, we headed back to the courthouse, the afternoon crowd was larger, more reporters packed into the back rows for opening statements.We took our same seats and waited. At two PM exactly, the judge ret

CLAIREThe defense attorney tried a different approach. "Dr. Luke, nothing about these injuries indicates this was planned in advance, correct?" he asked."The injuries themselves don't indicate premeditation, no," Dr. Luke admitted. "But they also don't rule it out.""No further questions," the defense attorney said, looking slightly frustrated.Dr. Luke stepped down, the judge looked at the prosecution. "Your Honor," the lead prosecutor said. "At this time, the State would like to present video evidence."The courtroom went completely silent. "Proceed," the judge said, the bailiff dimmed the lights and a large screen lowered from the ceiling.Julian's entire body tensed beside me. "This footage was recovered from the Cross residence security system," the prosecutor explained. "It was anonymously submitted to police three months ago."She pressed play and the video started, showing a bedroom from a security camera angle. Victor and Elena entered the frame, both clearly in the middle

CLAIREWe spent the next two hours going over potential questions and answers. Nina played interviewer while I practiced my responses. "What inspired you to start your own line?" Nina asked."I wanted to create pieces for women who refuse to apologize for taking up space," I answered. "Women who've been told to be smaller, quieter, less, and decided they're done with that.""Good," Nina said. "But add something personal, make it connect to your story."I thought about it. "After my divorce, I felt invisible," I tried again. "Like I'd been erased, I started designing as a way to reclaim myself, to prove I still existed and mattered.""Perfect," Nina said with a smile. "That's the kind of answer that resonates."We kept practicing until noon. "You should eat something," Nina said, ordering salads from the place downstairs.While we ate, Nina did my makeup, keeping it natural but polished. "Not too much," I said nervously."Trust me," Nina replied, brushing powder across my cheeks. "You