Chapter 14
Eleanor’s trial began six months later.
She entered court in cream silk and pearls.
Still performing.
Still pretending.
Victor Sloan sat two tables away from her.
Julian sat behind his lawyer, thinner and hollow-eyed.
Serena agreed to testify.
So did Julian.
So did Robert.
So did I.
The prosecutor opened with the dinner video.
Not the bedroom.
The aftermath.
Eleanor yelling.
Julian admitting, “You were never supposed to find out.”
Serena saying I was supposed to sign the trust papers.
The jury watched Eleanor’s face.
She looked bored.
Then they played Dad’s tape.
Her mask cracked.
Just a little.
But enough.
Robert testified about my father’s poisoning concerns, the missing medical records, the charity accounts, the threats.
Victor’s lawyer tried to call him bitter.
Robert smiled sadly.
“Yes,” he said. “Watching your friend die makes a person bitter.”
When I testified, Eleanor stared at me like she could still make me small.
The defense attorney asked, “Mrs. Vance, you humiliated your husband publicly, correct?”
I looked at the jury.
“My husband humiliated our marriage. I revealed it.”
He asked, “You installed a camera in your bedroom?”
“After a break-in scare my husband used to call me paranoid.”
He smiled.
“You wanted revenge.”
I paused.
“No. That night, I wanted the truth in a room full of lies.”
May you like
Eleanor looked away.
For the first time, she could not hold my gaze.
