I sat outside the courtroom, waiting for the trial to begin. I hadn’t seen Ashlyn since that day at the gym.
“Don’t worry, Connor,” Phil said. “She’ll get what she deserves.”
“Let’s just hope the jury finds her guilty.”
As we walked into the courtroom and sat down, I looked over and saw Ellery walking towards me. I instantly stood up.
“Ellery, what are you doing here?” I asked.
“I wanted to be here for you, Connor.”
“Baby, I’m sorry, but I don’t want you here. I don’t want you involved in this.”
“It’s too late for that, Connor. I’m your wife, and whatever you’re involved in, involves me. Now if you don’t want me here, that’s too fucking bad, because I’m here to support you whether you want me to or not. So deal with it, buddy!” she exclaimed through gritted teeth.
I sighed as I looked at her, shook my head, and sat down. She said hello to Phil and then sat down next to me.
“Where’s Julia?”
“Peyton is watching her,” she replied.
The lawyers walked into the courtroom and took their seats up front. The guard opened the door off to the side and escorted Ashlyn into the room.
“Remind me to tell her how becoming that orange jumpsuit is on her and those chain accessories are to die for,” Ellery whispered.
“You are to stay away from her,” I warned.
Ashlyn looked directly at me as she entered the courtroom, and then looked directly at Ellery. I put my hand on her thigh because I was nervous she was going to get pissed and start something. Ellery could have quite a temper. She put her hand on mine and looked over at me.
“Relax, Connor.”
I took in a deep breath as the judge entered the courtroom. Ashlyn’s attorney stood up and asked the judge for a postponement due to her change of plea.
“Your honor, my client is pleading not guilty by reason of insanity due to the mental distress she was put under by Mr. Connor Black.”
As I gasped, Ellery turned and looked at me. Her eyes were wide and angry. I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard. My heart started racing.
“Is this true?” the judge asked as he looked at Ashlyn.
“Yes, it is, your Honor,” she said as she nodded her head.
“Fine. The trial is postponed until one week from today,” he said as he got up from his seat and went into his chambers.
As the guard walked Ashlyn out of the courtroom, she looked over at me and blew me a kiss. When Ellery went to get up, I grabbed her arm.
“Don’t,” I whispered.
“Connor, this is bullshit!” she yelled.
“Yes, it is bullshit. I need to meet with my personal attorney,” I said.
As we got up from our seats, I grabbed Ellery’s hand and led her out of the courtroom. When we reached the hallway, I pulled her into me and held her tight.
“Everything’s going to be fine, Elle; I don’t want you worrying about this.”
“I hope you’re right,” she said.
I kissed her on the head and called Lou, my personal attorney. When I hung up the phone from him, I walked over to the bench where Ellery was sitting and talking on the phone. When she hung up, she looked at me with sadness in her eyes.
“Who where you talking to?” I asked.
“Peyton. I was checking on Julia.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. She wants to keep Julia a little while longer and then when Henry gets home from the hospital, they’ll bring her home. I invited them for dinner. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all, sweetheart,” I said as I took her hand and softly kissed it. “I think we could use some good friends tonight,” she said.
I helped her up from the bench and put my arm around her as we walked out of the building. As I opened the door to the limo, Ellery climbed in and, instantly, Denny knew something was wrong. I sat down next to her and shut the door.
“What happened in there?” Denny asked.
“Ashlyn changed her plea to not guilty by reason of insanity, and she’s blaming it on mental distress caused by me.”
“What?!” he exclaimed.
Ellery’s eyes started to swell with tears as she looked out her window. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her closer as I buried my face into her neck.
“I don’t want you upset over this. Things are going to work out,” I said.
“She’s an evil bitch, Connor, and she’ll go to whatever lengths necessary to destroy you.”
“Ellery, I’m not going to let that happen.”
“Yeah, well neither am I,” she said.
I pulled back and looked at her. “You are to stay away from Ashlyn. Do you understand me?” I said in a firm voice.
She looked at me with those blue eyes. They had a look in them that I knew all too well; the look of defiance and anger. She tilted her head as her lips formed a small smile.
“Yes, Connor, I understand you.”