Page 76 of Now Their Starlet

“No. Not at all. I’m doing this solely for the well-being of my daughter. Gina and I...” Edison swallows hard, his shoulders tensing visibly as his gaze darts to Gina for the first time. “I wish her peace.”

Collin falls silent at that answer. There’s a kind of heaviness to Edison’s tone, something that can only be present when he’s already been through all five stages of grief and arrived at acceptance, that can’t be faked unless he’s the world’s best actor.

Gina makes a sound of protest, loud enough for the entire room to hear. She’s immediately shushed by her team of lawyers.

“I also wish Andi peace, and I don’t believe she’ll find that under her mother’s thumb, or with this conservatorship hanging over her head,” Edison continues.

Gina’s pale face is mottled and splotchy, almost like she’s allergic to how angry she is.

“I can’t believe this!” she says, throwing her hands up.

The two junior attorneys at her table pale and instantly start whispering to her.

The judge doesn’t react kindly to her outburst.

“Ms. Sterling, if you interrupt again, I will have you removed,” Judge Harvey says, his eyes narrowing on her.

Collin winces, clasping his hands in front of him.

“My client is sorry⁠—”

“No! This—this shouldn’t be happening!” Gina hisses again, quieter this time, but very much still audible.

“Bailiff,” Judge Harvey says with a wave.

“Ma’am, please come with me,” the bailiff says, immediately approaching.

Gina’s eyes go wide, as if she were expecting to get away with her bad behavior.

“But—wait a second. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean⁠—”

“Ms. Sterling, this is a court of law. Comply with the Bailiff’s instructions, or I’ll have no choice but to hold you in contempt of court. Do I make myself clear?”

Her team of lawyers continues to whisper to her until she finally stands up and spins on her sky-high stiletto, walking out in front of the bailiff like she’s trying to act like it was her idea to leave.

“Well then,” Judge Harvey says with a huff. “Do you have any more questions for the witness, Mr. Wallace?”

“No, Your Honor,” Collin says with a deep sigh before taking a seat.

Edison makes his way back to his seat, offering me a small smile that I can’t help but feel is a little sad around the edges. I can imagine seeing my mom react so badly to him simply wishing her peace probably didn’t help to soothe the lingering emotional wound of their unbonding.

Guilt gnaws at me that I’m putting him through having to be in the same room as Gina again. I’m sure he would’ve preferred to never see her again. I certainly wouldn’t voluntarily enter a room I knew she’d be in if I were him.

I’m not sure if that’s a poor reflection of me or a reflection of how much my father cares about me.

Maybe both.

“Miss Andi,” Judge Harvey, the tone of his voice softening ever so slightly.

My gaze jerks up from the table.

“Y—yes, Your Honor,” I say, sitting up straight.

“Miss Andi, I have a few questions for you. I’d like to understand your perspective.”

“Alright,” I say with a sharp nod. “Your Honor.”

Are we supposed to say Your Honor after everything we say? I probably should just to be safe.