The courtroom was unnervingly still, as if the air itself was holding its breath.
Zara stood at the plaintiff's table in a crisp black suit, shoulders squared, chin up—pretending her hands weren't trembling.
Nathaniel, stood beside her— calm and poised— but even he could feel the shift in energy since the last hearing.
But her gaze never left Clement.
He looked every inch the composed patriarch—silver hair combed neatly, dark suit perfectly pressed, a grandfather playing the concerned victim. His lawyers were dressed for war.
Behind her was Nadia who was beaming with enthusiasm and hope.
Nathaniel leaned in toward Zara. "Are you ready for this?"
Zara nodded. "Yeah, but are you sure it's going to hold since I've been fired?"
"I already told you it will. You're inherently rich. No one is looking into your employment record."
Zara nodded, turning to Nadia.
Nadia gave her a reassuring nod, before she faced the judge again.
