The Boehler’s lawyer went for the jugular. “This is the type of behavior we have listed in the order. He’s unpredictable and lets his emotions get the better of him. Ms. Boehler is a sick woman who needs care around the clock, supervision that doesn’t involve someone else’s agenda. Their marriage is a sham. He coerced her into marrying him when she was medicated without clear thoughts. She was in no position to make that kind of judgment about her future.”

“I object!” Caleb said, standing up. “What did he have to gain from coercing her? He has his own money.”

Taylor was shell-shocked, bombed in the middle of Manhattan by this turn in focus. He turned to the only one who gave him comfort, but she wouldn’t look his way. His heart thudded on as it soldiered through this field of mines.

“Overruled.”

The lawyer went into deep documentation to point out all attempts that Taylor had forced her to spend time with him. Every gallery brochure, business card from a restaurant, and flower he had given her was being used against him.

Jude felt sick. All of her memorabilia was on display, the truth twisted. Every last thing she had taken to remember their time together was now tainted and manipulated into something bad. Tears started to fill her eyes as the lies replaced her life. Her. Life. For. His. Sold to the tune of seven million dollars. She didn’t let her tears fall, needing to put on her bravest face. It would soon be over and by how things sounded like they were going, she would start serving her one-year sentence soon enough.

As soon as Caleb started into his own argument, the other lawyer pulled his biggest hit. He slammed down a file and said, “Let’s not overlook the details that Mr. Monroe does not want you to see.”

Judge Matthews had a reputation of shutting down antics in his courtroom, but even he seemed intrigued enough to want to know, despite Caleb’s objection.

To the horror and humiliation of Jude, the photos were shown for all to see, along with a medical report showing that she had indeed been prescribed medication two days prior to marrying Taylor. She shook her head in disgust. Prescribed didn’t mean taking. She was so frustrated by the accusations. She had never agreed to this. She would have never agreed to attacking his character or their love. But she had to let it go because she had to let him go.

But as Jude’s lawyer continued, no charges had yet to be filed against Dr. Conroy, so his word sealed their fate. “She is not of sound mind.”

Three hours later, Caleb walked Taylor out of the courtroom and down to the lobby. Taylor caught in a daze.

“What just happened?”

“I’ll file an appeal as soon as I get back to the office.”

Still shocked by the outcome, Taylor pointed in the direction of the courtroom. “Caleb, what the fuck just happened in there?”

Caleb shook his head.

Taylor ran his hands through his hair. “So the restraining order got dropped. But he just annulled my marriage?”

“He did.”

“On what grounds? Make it clear for me. Layman’s terms.”

Caleb knew better than to get into details this close to the courthouse, but by looking at Taylor, he had no choice. “Bottom line—she was coerced while medicated.”

“We were in there for an unjustified restraining order. How did our marriage come into play?”

“It’s all intertwined, Taylor. They filed the paperwork this morning. I don’t know why Matthews accepted it. To save time? The marriage. The conservatorship. And the medical records. A doctor went on record to say she suffers from insanity and needs her parents’ care.”

His world was crumbling around him, and his right hand began to tremble. “What am I supposed to do?”

Caleb sighed. “Go home. Get some rest. We’ll try again another day. We’ll fight this until we win, but right now I need to get to my office and find out how we were fucking blindsided in there.”

“In the meantime, she’ll die. They’ll kill her one way or the other. Didn’t you hear? She has seven million dollars on the line. Wonder how much they’ve made her sign away.”

“That’s a good idea. We can try to find out how much is left of it when we’re waiting on the appeal. That can prove motive.”

Taylor felt numb and physically beaten. He struggled to hold onto hope when he lost his whole reason for being. Unable to find reason in this insanity, he asked, “How long will the appeal take?”

“I don’t know. I’ll file for a new judge to hear the case.”

“Caleb, tell me there’s a possibility. That there’s a chance of winning here.”

“I’m not even sure what we’re fighting anymore.”

Fuck!

JUDE’S MOTHER APPROACHED Taylor and Caleb around the corner outside the courthouse. Taylor, surprised to see her coming his way, stopped. He saw sadness in her eyes, and he watched as she took a deep breath.

“My daughter would like to speak with you a moment.”

He didn’t know why she was speaking for Jude. Why could Jude not just come over to him? But like what his lawyer would advise, he knew she was told not to. He shook his head, disappointed and hurt that they now required a messenger between them. Looking over her shoulder for any sign of Jude, he asked, “Why were you on my side of the courtroom?”

“Because…” she glanced at Caleb, shifting uncomfortably, and whispered, “love should win.” She walked away, leaving that sentiment lingering long after.

Caleb warned, “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“I don’t care anymore.”

When Jude’s mother returned, Jude was on her arm arguing with her. As soon as she saw Hazel, she went silent, then broke down. Jude stood there in her wrinkled sundress with her face buried in her hands, her shoulders shaking from the devastation. When she looked up at him, she knew they weren’t going to have their happy ending. Too much pain. Too much slanderous torment had divided them.

But despite all the water that had passed under their decaying bridge, they stood there, their hearts still beating only for the other.

“Why aren’t you looking at me, Jude?” When she closed her eyes and put her hands over her face again, he demanded, “Look at me!”

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can.”

“No,” she cried. “I can’t. Please.”

“Please what? What are you doing? Are you siding with them?”

“I’m not siding with them. I’m not. I just can’t do this.”

“This? And by ‘this,’ you mean be with me?” Tilting his head back, he closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

“Taylor, pleas—”

“Don’t call me that. Don’t you fucking call me that!” He pointed his finger at her in anger. “You’re giving up. You’re giving up on us. Giving up on us is the same as you giving up on yourself. I can afford to fight this for as long as we need to fight. But I can’t do it without you.” He felt frantic and took her hands in his. She was warm, recalling a million other gentle touches from their past. “Jude, listen, I’m here, however you need me, but don’t think for a minute that us being apart is going to solve anything. We will always be stronger together. I’ll take care of it, Jude. I promise.”

She wished he would repeat that promise and make it come true, but she knew he couldn’t. And more importantly, she knew what she had to do to prevent any further damage, namely his. The deal she had made shrouded her heart and blocked her faith—her life for his.

Pulling her hands back, she turned her back to him. She couldn’t handle her own tears, so his tears would do her in completely. She cleared her throat and barely above a whisper, said, “I can’t be with you. I can’t handle my own problems, so I can’t take on yours.” He tore down the invisible wall she had built and took hold of her arm, spinning her around to face him again. “Go, Hazel. A better life awaits.”