Chapter 9
The grand granite steps of the federal courthouse were a chaotic sea of reporters, flashing camera bulbs, and microphone booms as Richard Vance arrived flanked by expensive defense attorneys. Richard kept his chin held high, maintaining the icy facade of a patriarch under siege, though his eyes darted nervously away from the aggressive press corps. Just moments later, a sleek gray sedan pulled up to the side entrance, and Catherine stepped out. She wore a tailored navy trench coat, her hair pulled back into a sleek bun, her expression composed and resolute. She did not stop to answer questions from the reporters; security detail parted the crowd effortlessly, allowing her to walk up the steps with absolute dignity.
Julian was already inside, waiting quietly on a wooden bench in the sunlit corridor outside Courtroom 4B. When Catherine emerged from the private elevator accompanied by Marcus Vance, she paused mid-stride. Her eyes met Julian’s across the polished terrazzo floor. For a long moment, neither of them moved. The ambient noise of the courthouse seemed to fade into the background. The bruise on her cheek had begun to fade into a faint yellowish hue under her makeup, but the memory of the night it happened hung heavy between them.
Julian stood up slowly, stepping forward without any of the defensive posture or arrogant swagger that had defined their last encounter under the mansion lights. He stopped a few feet away, keeping his hands empty and visible at his sides. "I filed my testimony this morning," Julian said quietly, his voice lacking the old defensiveness. "I didn't ask for immunity. Whatever comes next for Vance Global, I’m ready to face it."
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Catherine studied his face, searching for the lingering echoes of the man she had married. What she found was something entirely different—vulnerability, accountability, and the painful humility of a man who had finally been forced to grow up. "I know," Catherine replied softly, her tone carrying neither warmth nor malice, but a quiet, respectful acknowledgment. "Marcus received the notification from the prosecutor's office an hour ago. It was the right choice, Julian."
"I'm sorry," Julian said, the words catching slightly in his throat before he forced them out cleanly. "Not just for the corporate mess, or for that night... but for letting my family blind me to who you were, and what they were doing to you." Catherine offered a faint, fleeting nod, her gaze steady. "We all make our choices, Julian. Mine was to stop running. Yours is finally beginning." With that, she turned and walked into the courtroom, leaving him standing in the corridor alone.
