44. Hannah
Hannah
" A ll rise for the honorable Judge Doyle." The bailiff calls out, and Enzo, Brody, and I stand at our counsel table.
My heart is pounding in my chest as I watch the man who will decide my future walk into the courtroom and take his place at the podium.
Since I'm the one being sued and not my pack, I'm entitled to have one alpha with me at the table, and Enzo seemed like the best option since he has the most experience with these things.
The rest of my alphas stand behind us in front of the benches in the gallery.
Except for Noah, actually. He promised he'd be here, but something is holding him up.
I can't even sense what's going on through the bond, I just get little hints of worry, and then satisfaction.
"You may be seated," Judge Doyle calls out, gathering papers in front of him. "We're here today to settle the matter of the estate of one…Sylvia Pearson. Prosecution, you may make your opening statement."
Five figures sit at the table across the aisle from us.
All three of my step-sisters sit with Peter and Niles Herman, their alphas sat in the benches behind them in the gallery.
I watch as Niles stands and starts to address the judge.
Since this is considered a pack civil matter, there is no jury, and the judge will decide the outcome of the case.
"Your honor," he starts in his nasally voice, "our clients have been wronged.
Sylvia Pearson only had three biological grandchildren, and Ms. Hannah Beckham is not one of them.
What basis is there for her to receive all of an inheritance for a family she wasn't even a part of, leaving my clients with a measly three dollars between them?
We have evidence to show that Ms. Beckham manipulated Ms. Pearson into changing the beneficiaries of her estate and as a result, motion to revert her will to its original state from ten years ago. "
Ten years ago? That was just a few years after I moved in with her.
"Thank you, counsel." Judge Doyle says gruffly, nodding at the Herman brother. The smarmy lawyer walks back to his table and sits. "Defense?" Judge Doyle questions, his attention shifting and his eyes intent on Brody.
"Your Honor," Brody stands, walking in front of the counsel tables, "Ms. Beckham is the only one of Sylvia's five legal grandchildren who actually spent any time with her.
Does it not make sense that a woman would want to leave her possessions to the person who she had the closest personal connection with?
Who cared about her enough to pick up life at sixteen years old to help her when she was sick?
The Pearson sisters might be Sylvie's only biological grandchildren, but I think we all know that blood ties can mean nothing if you don't foster a relationship.
Our evidence will not only highlight the genuine affection between my client and the deceased Sylvie Pearson, but also the utter lack of love and respect from Catrina, Ruth, and Elizabeth Pearson.
We will prove that Sylvie made the change in her will of her own volition and that Hannah should retain her legal right to the estate. "
"Thank you, counsel." Judge Doyle nods at Brody, who lets out a breath before taking his seat next to me again. Enzo's hand lands on my knee and he squeezes, sending me a reassuring smile.
Okay. That wasn't so bad. I can do this, right?
"Prosecution, you will now present your evidence."
I'm then forced to sit for hours while my step-sisters spout piles and piles of horseshit.
"She always talked about how she couldn't wait for her to die.
" An actual tear rolls down her cheek. I wonder if she's been practicing her fake crying.
"She'd say that once she got her money, she'd open up her own hair salon and…
" Cat's lies go on and on, painting me a villain who manipulated a poor old woman into thinking I loved her.
The hours tick by on the clock as Rue and then Birdie give their "testimonies", more lies and total bullshit.
What's worse, the judge looks like he's actually taking all of this seriously.
More than once, Enzo has had to send me a wave of calm through the bond because I was about to stand up in protest.
Austin and Charlie too have been pushing love and reassurance my way, and I don't know what I would have done without them.
"We do have one more witness to call up to the stand, your honor." Niles Herman says, glancing over at us. Shit. Brody warned me this could happen.
"Go on then," Judge Doyle says, waving his hand.
"We'd like to call Hannah Beckham to the stand."
My bonds are flooded with support and love, and I rise on steady feet to approach the stand. They can't get me. I didn't do anything.
The bailiff swears me in as I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and then I'm sat in the little witness box.
"Ms. Beckham," Niles says, standing in front of me. "Can you please tell us what you do for a living?"
"I'm a hairdresser," my voice wavers slightly, "at Designation Hair Salon."
"And Ms. Beckham, can you please tell us how much you make a month?"
"Objection!" Brody calls out, raising his hand. "Relevance, Your Honor?"
"It is relevant, Your Honor," Niles says, looking smug.
"Overruled. Please answer the question, Ms. Beckham." Judge Doyle gives me a nod.
"Around thirty five hundred a month I suppose."
Niles wastes no time with his next question. "How much does a heat clinic visit cost?"
I frown. "It depends on where you go, how long your stay is, what amenities you select—"
"To the best of your knowledge, please."
"I don't know, anywhere from a couple hundred to a thousand dollars." I shrug.
"And Ms. Beckham, how many heats have you had at a Heat Clinic since you presented?" They're pulling this again ? I feel flickers of my alpha's frustration through the bond. It can't be easy for them to watch this either.
"Objection!" Brody cuts in again. "Your Honor, under the Omega Privacy Act, Ms. Beckham is protected from having to disclose any details regarding her heats."
"Please be mindful of the OPA in your questions, Mr. Herman," Judge Doyle chastises. "The objection is sustained."
"Withdrawn," Niles says, raising his hands in mock surrender.
"So let's just, hypothetically, say that there's an omega who is currently around the age of twenty-nine.
Let's say she presented at eighteen, and has had four heats a year on average since presenting.
That's around forty heats, isn't it? Then if we take an average of five hundred dollars a visit.
So it's reasonable to assume that an omega could spend around twenty thousand dollars over a period of ten-ish years, is it not? "
"Objection, relevance!" Brody sounds as exasperated as I feel.
"Mr. Herman, we can do math. Proceed under the assumption it's reasonable, and please get to the point." Judge Doyle snaps.
"Ms. Beckham, did you manipulate your step-grandmother into changing her will because you'd been rejected by so many packs you had no choice but to spend thousands of dollars a year on heat clinic visits?"
My jaw drops in outrage and I feel in the bond the moment Austin's control snaps, his usually pale complexion red with anger as he shoots up from his seat. "Now wait just a godsdamn minute here! Ain't nobody gets to talk to my omega like that!"
Enzo turns immediately and starts whispering to him, but it's too late.
The judge scowls as Austin. "Young man, there will be no more disruptions in this court.
The fact is, your omega is going to be under scrutiny for the remainder of this trial.
If you can't handle that, you need to leave. Do I make myself clear?"
Austin looks properly chastised, and shoots me an apologetic look. It's strange to see my sweet alpha so riled up, even if it is on my behalf. I reach out in the bond and assure him I'm okay.
"Yes sir. I apologize," Austin says quietly, and Brody jumps in.
"It was a compound question though, Your Honor, and it alluded to her heats."
"Sustained. Rephrase please, Mr. Herman. Do not include any reference to Ms. Beckham's heats or her courting packs. There is no relevance."
Niles sighs. "Ms. Beckham, did you and your step-grandmother ever talk about her estate?"
"Never," I answer quickly.
"Please remember that you're under oath, Ms. Beckham."
"I couldn't forget," I snap, my fist clenching.
"So you had no idea how much money was going to be passed off when she died?"
"No." I grit my teeth.
"Do you think it's a coincidence that she changed her will less than five years after you came to live with her?"
"Not at all." Niles' eyes widen like he didn't expect me to say that. He must think he's caught me in a slip up. "I mean, I'd been taking care of her for years at that point, so it must have sunk in that her so-called 'real' grandchildren didn't give two shits about her."
"Ms. Beckham, you will mind your language." The judge sounds so exasperated with me, but I can't bring myself to care. Not when my response is what put that pissed off look on all my step-sisters' faces.
"Yes, your honor," I say with a smile, and Niles' jaw tightens.
"We have no more questions."
"Good. We will take a thirty minute recess." Judge Doyle slams his gavel down, and I stand from my chair on shaky legs. It's almost over.
"This is bullshit," Austin spits, pacing in front of a tree that we've all settled by at a park next door to the courthouse. "How could the judge let him talk to you like that?"
"It's a trial, Aust." I shrug. "They're going for the throat."
"If Austin hadn't said anything, I would have." Charlie shakes his head, crossing his arms.
"Listen, I know it must be hard to see Hannah interrogated like that," Brody says, running a hand through his hair. "But Judge Doyle will kick all of you out if there's another outburst."
"We have it under control," Enzo nods at him, then looks to Austin and Charlie, "right, guys?"
"Yes," they grumble, but then Austin frowns. "Though, I can't say the same for Noah."
"Where is he?" I ask, trying not to sound hurt.
"I'm here, princess." Noah jogs up to us, sounding out of breath and presses a kiss to my lips. "I'm so sorry I'm late."
"What were you doing?" I frown, wondering what could have been more important than my trial.
"Well, when Lizard said that she enrolled in college under her mothers maiden name, it got me thinking…
well, actually it's better you don't know.
" He turns to Brody, handing him a USB drive.
"This was left on our doorstep after you guys left for court, and I just looked through it.
There's evidence there that shows what devious snakes all Hannah's step-sisters are and shows what lengths they'll go to for money. "
Brody takes the drive, "Was this really left on—"
"Yes, and if that wasn't true, we'd have to answer how we got it. Capisce ?"
"Are you Italian now?" Brody asks, raising a brow.
"No." Noah snorts. "I've just always wanted to say that."
I don't even have time to laugh at my alpha's antics before a figure approaching has my hackles rising.
"Last chance, Hannah!" Cat's voice grates on my nerves.
"Last chance for what?" I ask, crossing my arms.
"We'll drop the case now if you just hand it all over. I'm even willing to let you keep two percent."
"Not a chance." I scowl at her. "You think I'd do you a single kindness after what you did to me and Charlie? We know what you did all those years ago." Charlie comes up next to me and wraps an arm around my shoulder in a supportive gesture.
"Yeah, so?" Cat snorts. "It's not illegal to change Rue's name to Charlie in my phone and make you think he never loved you. The only thing I regret about that is that you ran to Nana and became her favorite."
"Oh?" My brow arches. "So you believe that she willingly put me in her will?"
She scoffs. "It doesn't matter. It never should have happened."
With that, she starts to walk away, but I can't stop the question from coming out of my mouth. "Why? Why did you have to rip us apart? Why do you hate me so much, Cat? I've never done anything to you."
She stops in her tracks, and for a second, I think she's not going to answer me.
Or that she'll give me some kind of bullshit answer.
But instead, she says in a flat voice. "You had a mom, and I didn't. You had everything.
Why should you get Nana too?" Then she keeps walking, and I'm left with my jaw dropped.
"Um…hey guys." My brother's voice shocks me, and I whirl around to find him coming out from behind a nearby tree.
"Kieran!" I cry, running over and wrapping my arms around him in a hug. "What are you doing here? And why were you behind a tree?"
"Hey Banana," Kieran says softly. His hair, which he bleaches white-blonde, reaches his ears but it falls into his face as he presses a kiss to my head. He looks up to my pack. "Oh, so this is the pack I've heard absolutely nothing about."
My cheeks heat and I pull away guiltily. I haven't been a very good sister. "Don't worry, mags, I filled him in." Charlie shoots me a wink and Kieran lets out a fake shudder.
"Yeah, that's weird." I roll my eyes. Kieran was the one who told me we needed to get our shit together, and then he acts like we have cooties when we do.
All my alphas introduce themselves to my brother, and he looks at them with wide eyes. "You guys are a bunch of big fuckers aren't you?"
Enzo chuckles. "You're not really tiny yourself."
Kieran frowns, looking down at himself. "Yeah, I suppose I'm not."
Brody is the last to shake his hand. "I'm Brody Benson, we spoke on the phone. Thanks for coming, it's nice to meet you in person."
"You're going to testify?" My brows shoot up.
"Of course I am," Kieran says, ruffling my hair. "I'll tell them all about how you and Nana would beg them to play scrabble with you and they poked fun at you for playing with an old lady."
That startles a laugh out of me. "Oh my gods. I forgot all about that." My eyes narrow. "You never told me why you were hiding behind that tree."
"Well," Kieran sticks his hands in his pockets, "I was on my way to find you when I saw Cat approach. I decided to wait to see what she had to say, and…"
"What?" Brody asks hesitantly.
"Would it help if I told you I video recorded the entire conversation?"