At 8:00 in the morning, she took Noah to daycare and headed to the courthouse. She wanted to see with her own eyes how the world of the man who had planned to destroy her life would crumble.
The courthouse building greeted her with its usual hustle and bustle: lawyers, plaintiffs, defendants, witnesses, all rushing from one place to another.
Emily found the courtroom where the case of Catherine Jennings’s inheritance would be heard.
At 9:30, Ethan arrived. He was wearing his best suit, carrying a briefcase with documents. He looked confident and calm. Beside him walked Pamela in a discrete black dress. Her demeanor was professional, but Emily noticed how Ethan discreetly brushed his assistant’s hand.
“We will get the last million and be free,” she heard him say.
Yes, free of money, of work, of reputation, Emily replied in her mind.
At 10:00 in the morning, the hearing did not begin. The judge, Judge Elena Macarena, had already been informed that a criminal about to flee the country would be in the courtroom and that he should be arrested immediately.
Ethan sat with Pamela inside the courtroom. Emily also entered, accompanied by Mr. Roth.
Ethan saw his wife and turned pale.
“Emily, what are you doing here?”
“Defending my rights, dear. The right to Aunt Catherine’s inheritance, which you plan to steal.”
“What are you talking about? What proof?”
“Proof that you forged the will and also of your systematic fraud.”
“That is absurd,” Ethan stood up. “I am a lawyer with an impeccable reputation.”
“Impeccable. Until yesterday,” Emily said calmly.
At that moment, two people in plain clothes entered the courtroom. Detective Vargas and an officer. Ethan saw them and stepped back.
“Ethan Hayes,” Vargas said. “Yes, you are under arrest for the crimes of grand lararseny and forgery of a public document. You have the right to remain silent.”
“What? You are mistaken.”
Pamela got up from her seat, but the second officer was already approaching her.
“Pamela Serrano, you are under arrest as an accomplice in the crime.”
“I did not do anything,” she shouted. “It was his idea.”
“We will discuss that at the station,” the officer replied indifferently.
They put handcuffs on Ethan. He turned to Emily. In his eyes, there was shock and incomprehension.
“Emily, what is happening? It is a mistake, right?”