Chapter 6
By noon, Richard arrived with a camera crew.
Not news.
His own publicist.
He walked through the hospital doors holding flowers and wearing the face of a devastated husband.
I met him outside Khloe’s room.
“No.”
He stopped.
“Harrison, don’t make a scene.”
“You brought one.”
The publicist lifted her phone.
I looked at her.
“Record this clearly.”
Richard’s jaw tightened.
“I’m here to see my wife and son.”
“Your son is in NICU because your mistress shoved his mother down courthouse steps.”
His mask flickered.
“She slipped during a confrontation.”
I stepped closer.
“I have video.”
“She attacked Vanessa first.”
“I have three videos.”
He went still.
The publicist lowered the phone.
Smart woman.
Richard’s eyes changed.
For one second, I saw the man Khloe had been living with.
Cold.
Entitled.
Furious.
Then the grieving husband returned.
“My wife needs psychiatric care.”
“She needs protection from you.”
He smiled sadly for the watching nurses.
“This is exactly what I feared. Her family has always enabled her episodes.”
My aunt Avery walked up behind me.
“Richard.”
His face drained.
“Judge Cole.”
“Retired,” she said. “But still able to recognize a rehearsed lie.”
He stepped back.
Avery handed him a paper.
“What is this?”
“A temporary emergency protective order. You are barred from contact with Khloe and the baby pending hearing.”
His hand trembled.
“You can’t do this.”
“She didn’t,” I said. “A judge did.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Which judge?”
“One you don’t golf with.”
Avery’s smile was sharp.
Richard turned to leave, then leaned close.
“You think a paper stops me?”
“No,” I said quietly. “I think it gives me permission to bury you legally when you violate it.”
He walked away.
The flowers stayed on the floor.
Inside the room, Khloe had heard enough.
She was shaking.
“He’ll punish me for that.”
I took her hand.
“No. He’ll try.”
“That’s not comforting.”
“It’s honest.”
She looked at me.
May you like
Then she nodded.
“Good. I need honest now.”
