Chapter 10 - STAND UP
Dr. Kessler was found unconscious in his parking garage with a fractured wrist and a concussion.
His laptop was gone.
By morning, Julian’s lawyers were telling the judge that Genevieve’s accusations had become “increasingly elaborate.”
Sarah read the phrase aloud and nearly threw the filing across the room.
Genevieve surprised herself by laughing.
“What?” Sarah asked.
“They keep calling me helpless while sending half the city to shut me up.”
Physical therapy began that afternoon.
A therapist named Darnell fitted braces around Genevieve’s knees and helped her sit at the edge of the bed.
The room spun.
Sweat broke across her face.
“Easy,” Darnell said.
“I’m tired of easy.”
He smiled. “Good. Then give me angry.”
She did.
For twenty seconds, Genevieve stood between parallel bars with Darnell holding most of her weight.
Her knees shook violently.
But she stood.
Sarah watched from the doorway with tears in her eyes.
“Don’t tell Julian,” Genevieve said.
Sarah understood immediately.
For days, Julian had built his case around the idea that Genevieve could not sign, could not stand, could not make decisions without assistance.
So they let him believe it.
That evening Sarah brought an affidavit.
Genevieve gripped a thick adaptive pen.
Her hand trembled so badly the first letter looked like a wave.
She stopped.
Tried again.
G.
Then E.
Slowly, painfully, Genevieve signed her own name.
Not the perfect forged version.
Her real signature.
Sarah notarized it with an independent hospital officer.
Genevieve exhaled.
“What did I just sign?”
“A revocation of every power Julian claims to have.”
Sarah turned the page.
“And authorization to freeze the Mercer trust before tomorrow’s hearing.”
Genevieve smiled for the first time in days.
Then Sarah’s phone buzzed.
Her smile vanished.
Julian had filed one more request.
May you like
Emergency custody of Nora.
The hearing was in nine hours.
