The lawyer did not show up.
When the court clerk came forward for the second time in the case, there was already a whisper running along the wooden benches, a muffled buzz of curiosity mixed with something sharper – anticipation.
The cameras moved. The pens stopped in midair. The man sitting alone at the defense table stared at the empty chair next to him as if it might fill up on its own at any moment.
He didn’t.
Alexander Rowan, once known as one of California’s most disciplined real estate developers, sat perfectly still, his arms folded, his tailored suit immaculate, almost defiant.
Across the hall, Veronica Caldwell’s partner adjusted his blazer with a discreet smile—a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He’d been waiting for this moment.
“Your Honor,” Veronica said smoothly as she stood before the judge, “the defense did not appear.”
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