Caldwell shot to his feet. “Objection. We have had no discovery. This is an ambush.”
Evelyn turned slowly.
“Opposing counsel filed an emergency petition this morning seeking immediate seizure of my client’s assets without notice. They asked the court to rule today. They opened the door to immediate responsive evidence.”
Judge Whitman glared at Caldwell. “You cannot demand emergency relief and then complain when the response is urgent. Objection overruled.”
The bailiff handed the folder to the judge.
Everyone watched him break the seal.
The sound was small.
Paper tearing.
A quiet rip.
But my mother flinched as if someone had fired a gun.
Judge Whitman read the first page.
Then the second.
Then he stopped.
He looked at me.
For the first time all morning, he did not look at me like a possible victim.
He looked at me like a file had just turned into a person.
