Chapter 13 - FLORENCE TESTIFIES
Florence testified at the protective-order hearing before the criminal trial.
Her voice shook.
Her facts did not.
Gwendolyn’s lawyer asked:
“You disliked my client?”
“Eventually.”
“You believed she married Lucas for money?”
“I worried she did.”
“Did you say that to her?”
“Yes.”
“Repeatedly?”
“Probably.”
“Did you insult her family?”
“Yes.”
“Did you call Hartbridge incompetent?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell her she would never belong?”
Florence hesitated.
“Yes.”
I closed my eyes.
There.
My grandmother had not been kind.
Still not consent to abuse.
Defense counsel continued:
“Did you ever throw objects at Gwendolyn?”
“A hairbrush once.”
“Why?”
“She took my phone.”
“So you were physically aggressive.”
“I threw a hairbrush at the wall.”
“Near her?”
“Yes.”
Important.
No saint.
Then camera footage.
Forced water.
Medication.
Grabbing.
Threats.
The judge saw context.
Florence cried when asked why she did not leave.
“It was my house.”
That sentence silenced the room.
Why should she leave?
Then:
“Why not call Lucas?”
“I thought he would believe his wife.”
“Why?”
“Because I taught him family loyalty badly.”
The lawyer frowned.
“What?”
Florence looked at me.
“I raised him to think peace was something he owed older relatives.”
That was not exactly true.
But enough.
Then the judge asked:
“Do you feel safe with Lucas?”
“Yes.”
“With Gwendolyn?”
“No.”
Long-term protective order entered.
No contact.
No access to Florence’s residence.
No control over care.
No family-office authority.
Not criminal sentence.
Safety order.
After hearing, I asked Florence:
“Did you really tell Gwendolyn she’d never belong?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I was cruel.”
“Did you mean it?”
“At the time.”
I walked away.
She called:
“Lucas.”
I turned.
“Being a victim doesn’t make me right about everything.”
Good.
May you like
I nodded.
That sentence would matter later when people tried to make the case simpler.
