Chapter 25 - GAVIN AND LENORA EXPLAIN CONTROL
Lenora testified first.
Her decision.
She admitted knowing Gavin planned to put something into Bianca’s tea.
Her lawyer visibly stiffened.
“What did you believe it was?”
“A medication he had used before.”
“Did you know Bianca had consented?”
“No.”
There.
“Why allow it?”
“To calm her.”
“Why did she need to be calm?”
“She became hysterical around money.”
Bianca did not move.
Then:
“Did you want her signature?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To protect the marriage.”
The prosecutor held up the transfer language.
“By giving your son management authority over her present and future property?”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Did you know Crescent Holdings belonged to Marcello?”
“I knew title was his.”
“Then why list it?”
“Because everyone knew Bianca would get it.”
“Everyone?”
“I did.”
There.
Expectation became entitlement.
Then the threat.
“Leave with nothing.”
Lenora said:
“I meant the Rusk household.”
Not the legal divorce settlement.
Possible.
Still coercive in context.
Then Gavin.
He testified too.
He admitted putting the medication into Bianca’s tea.
The courtroom shifted.
Why admit now?
Because video, blood, messages, searches.
His defense became intent.
“I gave her a small amount because she had used it before.”
Bianca’s attorney? No. Prosecutor asked:
“Did Bianca ever have a prescription?”
“No.”
“Did she ask for it?”
“No.”
“Did you tell her?”
“No.”
“Then what does ‘used it before’ mean?”
Gavin looked down.
“I had put it in her tea before.”
There.
More than one episode.
No need guess all four.
He admitted two prior occasions.
Why?
“She would calm down and actually listen.”
That sentence finished him emotionally.
Then the documents.
He said he believed spouses should manage wealth jointly.
The prosecutor asked:
“Did joint management require Bianca to know what was in her drink?”
“No.”
“Did it require her lawyer?”
“No.”
“Did it require a hospital before blood could be drawn?”
Gavin looked away.
Then:
“Why did you knock the tray down?”
“I panicked.”
“About what?”
“The test.”
“What would it show?”
He did not answer.
The prosecutor waited.
Finally:
“What I had done.”
There.
Not murder.
Not stolen empire.
Covert medication and coercion.
Then motive.
“Did you believe Marcello’s wealth made your marriage unequal?”
“Yes.”
“Did that give you a right to medicate your wife?”
“No.”
“Did it give you a right to demand her future inheritance?”
“No.”
“Do you understand that now?”
Gavin said:
“Yes.”
May you like
Understanding after exposure is not redemption.
But it was an answer.
