He Mocked His Wife’s Lack of a Lawyer… Until Her Mother Entered the Courtroom

“Mr. Ford, I am referring the transcript of today’s hearing to the District Attorney’s office for potential charges regarding perjury and wire fraud against your client.” Henderson stated.

“And I suggest you cooperate fully if you wish to keep your license.” The judge added.

“Yes, your honor.” Garrison said quickly.

“Finally,” The judge said, looking at Katherine.

“Ms. Bennett, regarding legal fees.” Henderson said.

Katherine smiled.

“Yes, your honor. Mr. Simmons will pay 100% of Mrs. Simmons’s legal fees.” Katherine requested.

“Given your standard hourly rate, I imagine that will be substantial.” The judge noted.

“Very substantial, your honor.” Katherine agreed.

“Court is adjourned.” Judge Henderson banged the gavel.

As the room cleared, Keith sat there, stunned. His life was over.

In two hours, he had gone from a multimillionaire playboy to a potential felon with nowhere to sleep.

He looked up to see Katherine and Grace packing their things. Grace looked different.

She stood straighter; the weight was gone. Keith stood up, his legs shaky.

He walked over to them.

“Grace,” He rasped.

“Grace, please. You can’t do this. Where am I going to go?” Keith pleaded.

Grace looked at him. She didn’t look angry anymore; she just looked done.

Before she could answer, Katherine stepped in between them. She towered over Keith, even though they were the same height.

Her presence was a physical wall.

“Mr. Simmons,” Katherine said, her voice ice-cold.

“My daughter doesn’t speak to criminals. If you have anything to say, you can say it to my junior associate.” Katherine declared.

She pointed to one of the young lawyers behind her, a sharp-looking man named Toby.

“Toby,” Katherine said.

“Give Mr. Simmons your card.” She commanded.

Toby handed Keith a card.

“Now,” Katherine said, taking Grace’s arm.

“Get out of my way. We have a celebratory lunch to get to.” She said.

“I believe Grace has some painting to catch up on.” Katherine added.

They walked past him. Grace didn’t look back.

Keith watched them leave. He watched the heavy wooden doors swing shut, sealing his fate.

He looked at Garrison Ford, who was already on the phone, presumably calling his own lawyer.

Keith Simmons was alone, but the story wasn’t quite over yet.

As Katherine and Grace stepped out onto the courthouse steps, blinking in the bright Manhattan sunlight, a black sedan pulled up.

But it wasn’t Katherine’s car. The window rolled down.

A man sat in the backseat. He was older, with silver hair and a face that looked like it was carved from granite.

He looked at Katherine, then at Grace. Grace froze.

“Dad.” She whispered.

Katherine stiffened. She gripped her briefcase tighter.

“Hello, Katherine.” The man said.

His voice was deep and commanded attention, even over the noise of the city traffic.

“I saw the news. The Iron Gavel returns.” He noted.

“You made quite a scene in there.” The man added.

“I did what had to be done, William.” Katherine said sharply.

“I know.” The man said.

He looked at Grace.

“Grace, it’s been a long time.” William said.

Grace looked between her mother and the father she hadn’t seen in twenty years.

The father who had sided with Keith when they first got married because it was a “good business merger.”

“What are you doing here?” Grace asked.

“I’m here,” William said, opening the car door.

“Because Keith Simmons owes me money. A lot of money.” He revealed.

“And I heard you two just took everything he has.” William added.

He stepped out of the car. He wasn’t there to hug his daughter; he was there for his investment.

Katherine stepped in front of Grace again.

“She owes you nothing, William. Keith’s debt is Keith’s problem.” Katherine said.

“Not according to the loan papers.” William said, pulling a document from his jacket.

“Keith put up the Fifth Avenue penthouse as collateral for a private loan from my firm six months ago.” He explained.

“If he defaults—which I assume he is about to—that apartment belongs to me.” William stated.

Grace felt the ground shift beneath her feet again.

Just when she thought she had won, the past came back to haunt her from a different direction.

Katherine looked at the document. Her eyes narrowed.

She scanned the signature.

“You signed this loan with him?” Katherine asked, looking at her ex-husband with disbelief.

“Knowing he was hiding assets?” She questioned.

“Business is business, Kate.” William said with a shrug.

“I didn’t know he was hiding it from you. I just knew he needed cash, and now I’m calling the note due today.” He stated.

He looked at Grace.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but that apartment is mine. You’ll have to find somewhere else to stay.” William said.

Grace felt the tears returning. She had just won her home back, only to lose it to her own father in the parking lot.

Katherine looked at William, then she looked at the document again.

A slow, dangerous smile spread across her face—the same smile she had given Keith right before she destroyed him.

“Oh, William.” Katherine chuckled darkly.

“You really should have read the fine print on the deed before you loaned him that money.” She said.

William frowned.

“What part six is going to be interesting?” Katherine whispered to herself.

The street noise of Manhattan seemed to fade away, leaving only the tension between the three family members standing on the sidewalk.

William stood by his sleek black car, holding the document that threatened to undo everything Katherine had just achieved inside the courtroom.

He looked at his ex-wife and daughter not with affection, but with the cold calculation of a man balancing a ledger.

“It’s a standard lien, Catherine.” William said, his voice devoid of emotion.

“Keith borrowed $2 million from my private equity firm, Ironclad Capital.” He explained.

“He put the deed to the Fifth Avenue penthouse up as collateral.” William continued.

“He defaulted on the first payment yesterday. The property is mine.” He declared.

Grace felt her knees go weak. She grabbed her mother’s arm for support.

“Is that true? Can he do that? Dad, how could you?” Grace asked.

“It’s business, Grace.” William said, though he had the grace to look slightly uncomfortable.

“Keith came to me with a business proposition. I didn’t know he was stealing from you, but money is money.” He explained.

“I can’t just write off a $2 million loss. I have investors.” William added.

Katherine Bennett didn’t flinch. She didn’t look worried.

In fact, she looked like she was suppressing a laugh.