The atmosphere in the Main House library was toxic. The custody hearing was in forty-eight hours, and the team was prepping William for his testimony.
“Beatrice’s lawyers are going to attack your character,” Malcolm warned, pacing the room. “They will say you are unstable. They will say you are hoarding two women.”
“I am not hoarding them!” William snapped, his manic energy spiking. “I am protecting the mother of my child! Beatrice wants to erase Victoria. I won’t let her touch my wife!”
The room went dead silent.
Sophie, who had been sitting quietly in the corner taking notes to support him, dropped her pen. It clattered loudly on the floor.
William froze, realizing what he had said. He turned slowly to look at Sophie. “Sophie, I didn’t mean…”
But the damage was done. In the heat of his defense, the “Divided Husband” had revealed exactly where his loyalty lay. He had called the ghost his wife, confirming to Sophie that she was merely the placeholder in her own marriage.