Chapter 10
Portia’s first hearing was packed.
Reporters.
Relatives.
Lawyers.
People who had eaten wedding appetizers while Maisie cried on marble.
Now they wanted front-row seats to justice.
Vivian sat beside me.
Cedric sat two rows back.
Alone.
He looked ruined.
Good.
Maybe ruin was the beginning of honesty.
Portia entered in a cream suit.
Elegant.
Calm.
She looked like a woman accused of bad manners, not crimes.
Her attorney argued she was a respected philanthropist.
The prosecutor placed a photo of Maisie’s bruised cheek on the screen.
Respect left the room quickly.
Detective Harris testified about the vase, the envelope, the hidden chamber, and Rose’s diary.
Flora testified next.
Her voice shook, but she spoke clearly.
“Mrs. Portia said the child was charity and should be grateful for scraps.”
Portia glared at her.
Flora did not look away.
Then came the surprise.
Cedric stood as a witness.
Vivian’s hand tightened around mine.
He admitted he had suspected Portia hid something about Celia.
He admitted he ignored his mother’s warnings.
He admitted fear.
The prosecutor asked, “Fear of what?”
Cedric looked at Portia.
“Losing status. Losing peace. Losing the version of my life where I was not responsible.”
Vivian started crying silently.
Portia stared at him with pure disgust.
For once, he did not shrink.
That mattered.
Not enough.
But something.
Portia was held without bail after prosecutors revealed Carlo had fled.
As officers led her away, she looked at Maisie, who sat in a protected room watching by video.
May you like
“You should have stayed invisible.”
Maisie whispered to the advocate, “But I didn’t.”
