Chapter 5
Outside the courtroom, camera flashes waited.
Not inside.
Victor was too careful for that.
But outside, photographers knew where to stand.
Elena stepped through the doors into white bursts of light, her face composed though her eyes were still wet.
Someone asked if her son had rejected her.
Someone asked whether she would appeal.
Someone asked if Victor Hale had offered a settlement.
Elena did not answer.
She walked through the courthouse corridor with her attorney beside her, then stopped near a side exit.
“You saw it?” she whispered.
Her attorney, Rebecca Cole, looked at her.
“The taps?”
Elena nodded.
Rebecca’s face tightened.
“Yes.”
Elena pressed one hand against the wall.
“He’s not safe.”
“I know.”
“He said not to believe him.”
Rebecca inhaled sharply.
“When?”
“Three nights ago.”
Rebecca looked toward the courtroom doors.
“Then we need to move carefully.”
Elena laughed once, without humor.
“Carefully? Victor has my son.”
“And if he knows we understand that, he will tighten everything.”
Elena closed her eyes.
She wanted to run back into court.
Grab Noah.
Scream.
Force the truth into the room.
But that was what desperate people did.
And desperate people became easy to discredit.
Rebecca touched her arm.
“Where are you going now?”
“JFK. I booked the flight Victor wanted me to take.”
Rebecca frowned.
“You’re leaving?”
Elena opened her eyes.
“I’m letting him think I am.”
That was the only move left.
Victor expected a broken woman to retreat.
So Elena would walk toward the departure gate.
She would carry one suitcase.
She would look defeated.
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And if Noah still had any way to reach her, he would know where she was.
Read the full story 👉 Elena left the courthouse like she was surrendering, but the airport was the only place Noah might still reach her.
