My mouth went dry.
“What questions?”
Judge Carter glanced at Daniel’s legal team.
“That will be addressed after the documents are verified.”
Then she did something I had not expected.
She looked directly at Gregory.
“Mr. Hale, I would also like a complete disclosure of any prior representation involving Daniel Whitmore, Whitmore Family Holdings, or entities controlled jointly by the brothers.”
Gregory’s face changed.
Not dramatically.
Just enough.
I saw it.
So did Vanessa.
Daniel turned toward him.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
Judge Carter’s voice remained calm.
“Potential conflicts of interest have everything to do with representation.”
Gregory swallowed.
“Understood.”
It was the first time all morning I felt the ground beneath Daniel’s case shift.
Not collapse.
Shift.
And after weeks of feeling as if every door had been quietly locked around me, even that small movement felt enormous.
Judge Carter scheduled an emergency review for three days later.
