Four

I sat in the stiff leather chair of the lawyer’s office, staring at the folder of papers in front of me. Across the desk, the lawyer—a sharp-looking man in his early forties with neatly combed hair and a suit that probably cost more than my monthly rent—flipped through some documents with practiced ease. His nameplate on the desk read Benjamin Cross, but even without the formal introduction, everything about him screamed polished professionalism.

“So, Miss Montrose,” he said, glancing up at me over his glasses, “you’re looking to retain legal counsel for your brother’s embezzlement case?”

“Yes,” I said, clutching my hands in my lap to stop them from trembling. “My brother is innocent. He didn’t steal that money. He just… he made a mistake. He signed papers without reading them.”

The lawyer raised an eyebrow. “That’s not unusual in cases like this. Unfortunately, negligence on his part might not absolve him in the eyes of the law. What you’ll need is a strong defense to prove either malicious intent by another party or provide enough reasonable doubt to avoid conviction.”

I nodded, even though my stomach was churning. “Can you help us?”

He leaned back in his chair, adjusting his glasses. “I can certainly try, but cases like this require time, resources, and expertise. I charge $500 an hour for consultations and $5,000 upfront to start work on the case.”

My breath hitched. “$5,000?”

“Yes,” he said matter-of-factly as if he hadn’t just quoted an amount that might as well have been a million dollars to me. “That’s standard for cases involving white-collar crimes. Depending on how complicated it gets, there could be additional fees down the line.”

I stared at him, trying to keep my composure, but my heart sank into my shoes. There was no way we could afford this. I barely made enough to keep our heads above water with Grandpa’s medical bills and the shop.

“I’ll… think about it,” I managed to say, my voice strained.

He nodded, clearly uninterested in whether or not I’d actually return. “Of course. Take your time. But I should warn you—the longer you wait to act, the harder it will be to build a strong defense.”

“Thank you,” I said, standing up quickly and grabbing my bag. I needed to get out of there before I started crying.

The bright sunlight outside was jarring, making the sting in my eyes even worse. I took a shaky breath, clutching my bag strap tightly as I made my way to the bus stop. The lawyer’s words kept echoing in my head, mixing with the weight of everything else that had happened. How was I supposed to fix this? How was I supposed to save Theo when every solution felt so far out of reach?

By the time I got home, the ache in my chest had settled into a numb heaviness. I pushed open the door and forced a smile as I stepped inside. Grandpa was sitting in his recliner, the soft hum of his oxygen tank filling the quiet room. The nurse, Margaret, was perched on the edge of the couch, folding laundry. She looked up when I walked in, her face kind but concerned.

“Long day?” she asked.

I nodded, shrugging off my coat. “Yeah, something like that.”

Grandpa’s sharp eyes followed me as I crossed the room, setting my bag down on the table. “Ella, come here,” he said, his voice raspier than usual.

I went to his side, kneeling down to take his hand. “What’s wrong, Grandpa?”

“You tell me,” he said, his brows knitting together. “You’ve been carrying something heavy all day. I can see it on your face.”

I tried to laugh it off, but it came out sounding hollow. “It’s nothing, Grandpa. I just… I couldn’t find the material one of my clients wanted for her dress. That’s all.”

He narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced. “Ella, I’ve been around long enough to know when someone’s lying to me. What’s really going on?”

Before I could answer, Margaret spoke up. “You haven’t eaten all day either, have you? I noticed you skipped breakfast and lunch. That’s not good for you, Ella.”

“I’ll eat in a bit,” I said, brushing her concern aside. “I just need to rest for a minute.”

Grandpa squeezed my hand gently. “Whatever it is, you don’t have to carry it alone, you hear me? We’re family. That means something.”

His words made my chest tighten, and I bit the inside of my cheek to stop the tears from welling up. I couldn’t tell him about Theo, not yet. He was already so fragile—I couldn’t risk upsetting him more than he already was.

“I know, Grandpa,” I said softly. “Thank you.”

He studied me for a moment longer, then nodded. “Good. Now go eat something before you faint on me.”

I smiled faintly and stood, heading to the kitchen to make some tea. Margaret followed me, her footsteps quiet but deliberate.

“You don’t have to tell me what’s wrong,” she said once we were alone, “but if you need someone to talk to, I’m here.”

“Thanks, Margaret,” I said, pouring hot water into a mug. “I’ll be fine.”

She didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t push either. Instead, she went back to folding laundry, giving me space to gather my thoughts.

That night, sleep didn’t come easily. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as my mind raced with everything that needed to be done. The lawyer’s fees. Theo’s innocence. Grandpa’s health. It was too much, and I felt like I was drowning under the weight of it all.

I tossed and turned for hours, unable to find any relief. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Theo’s face at the police station—tired, scared, and so unlike the confident little brother I knew. I wanted to help him, but how? What could I possibly do against a situation this big?

At some point, exhaustion finally pulled me under, but my dreams were restless and fragmented. When I woke the next morning, I felt just as tired as I had the night before. But there was no time to dwell on it. There were clients to call, orders to fill, and another long day ahead.