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“And you’re…okay? To proceed as planned?”

She nods heavily. “I am ready to put it behind me.”

“I just want to make sure that it’s not too much for you, what we found.”

She shakes her head. “I have made peace with Lorenzo’s mistakes. I will not mourn what I cannot change.”

“Listen,” I tell her, placing my hand over hers. “Today,he’sgoing to be mourning his mistakes.” I haven’t told her everything; there are people who need to hear the things I’ve uncovered first, as selfish as that makes me, but knowing that she’ll have more justice than what she will surely gain today steels my resolve. “I promise you that, Bianca. And this time, I won’t break it.”

Bianca pats the back of my hand, covering it with her free one, smiling at me warmly. “You never did, dear,” she assures me. “You are a powerful woman. I knew this from our first meeting. I am glad I chose you.”

I have to swallow around the thick lump that forms in my throat; I don’t trust my voice. I nod at her instead, her approval meaning more to me than she’ll ever know. Bianca Casiraghi is a culmination of hardship and tribulation being overcome and recycled into power. I can only hope that one day I can be half the woman she is.

“I’m glad you chose me too,” I finally manage tightly.

The courtroom doors burst open before she can reply, and we turn in our seats to watch Lorenzo following an unexpected face. I frown at Eli Hart leading him to his seat, turning back to the door to search for Ezra and wondering why Eli would be joining him so late in the game. When he never shows, my confusion only intensifies.

“Sorry we’re late, Your Honor,” Eli says, addressing the judge. “There have been some changes to Mr. Casiraghi’s counsel.”

Judge Harding arches one brow. “I can see that. The other Mr. Hart won’t be joining us?”

“Unfortunately,” Eli answers. “Ezra Hart is no longer employed at our firm.”

My mouth parts in surprise, my eyes widening. The fuck? Ezra doesn’t work for Alexander anymore? Did he quit? Was he fired? What about his mom? Did he not work there when he came to see me? The questions bounce around my brain like a dropped rubber ball. I do my best to clear the shock from my face.

“Are you still prepared to continue?” Judge Harding asks.

Eli nods. “I have been familiar with the case, and I’m confident that I’m still good to proceed.”

“Very well then,” Judge Harding says with a nod. “We can continue.” She adjusts her glasses, looking at her notes. “Now, Ms. Pierce, you may proceed with your witness.”

“We are, Your Honor,” I say, standing and trying to calm my racing heart. “Before we give closing arguments, I would like to call Anton Andrews to the stand.”

“Objection,” Eli says. “Mr. Andrews wasn’t listed as a witness.”

“Your Honor,” I counter calmly. “Mr. Andrews has been previously deposed. He is on the witness list, and he has already been cross-examined once during the course of this trial.”

Judge Harding looks thoughtful, glancing back at my potential witness with a glimmer of interest in her eyes. I hold my breath for a few precious seconds as I wait for her to decide, only exhaling in relief when she dips her head in a brief nod. “Mr. Hart, Ms. Pierce is allowed to call any witness that has already been listed.” She eyes him over her glasses. “Perhaps you aren’t as prepared for this case as you thought.”

“Thank you, Your Honor,” I say. I straighten, turning back to Anton, and gesturing between him and the stand. “Mr. Andrews, if you please.”

The man looks like a baby deer as he wobbles from his seat, his eyes darting between me and the stand and Lorenzo, who won’t so much as look at him. I keep my expression neutral as the bailiff swears Anton in, trying not to let my excitement show.

“Mr. Andrews,” I greet him as I take a few steps closer. “Sorry to take you by surprise, I know you’ve already answered my questions once before.”

His eyes glance toward Lorenzo’s table, but I don’t look to see if Lorenzo acknowledges him. I wouldn’t, if I were him. “T-that’s all right,” Anton responds shakily.

“Can you tell us again how long you’ve worked for Mr. Casiraghi?”

“Nine years, ma’am.”

“And what did you do for work before being hired by his company?”

“I was in college before I was hired by Mr. Casiraghi,” he says. “I was hired by his company after graduation.”

“And what college did you attend?”

“Northwestern, ma’am.”