Page 64 of Echoes of a Southern Song

“No. I’m saying—”

“Did he ever threaten you?”

“I already said no,” Jinnie answers.

“And as far as I know, my client is not skilled at mind control,” she says. “You made the choice to be with him. Marry him. Live with him.”

“I did and now I’m choosing not to be with him,” Jinnie says defiantly. “He took advantage of my naivety and manipulated me.”

“Is it possible you’re just regretting a hasty decision and projecting blame onto my client?”

I bristle. I’m on my feet before I realize it. “That’s enough,” I snap.

Every eye in the courtroom turns toward me. The judge glares over his glasses.

“Sir, you will remain silent,” he says, firm but not yelling. “This is your only warning. If you interrupt again, I will have you removed.”

Aggie yanks me back down by the sleeve, whispering sharply, “Sit. You’re not helping her right now.”

I sit. But it takes everything in me not to explode.

Jinnie doesn’t look back at me. Her jaw’s set tight, and her hands are white-knuckled in her lap.

Sam’s lawyer continues, undeterred. “Ms. Parker, is it not true that you have a vested interest in your family’s property?”

“I don’t want the property. I want my parents to keep it. I always have.”

“And yet, they’ve made no moves to transfer ownership, have they?”

“Because I told them not to. They offered. I said no.”

Sam’s lawyer walks slowly back to her table, flipping through a folder like she’s already dismissed Jinnie’s entire existence.

“No further questions,” she says.

I look at Aggie. “Is it over?” I whisper.

“Not even close,” she mutters.