Page 74 of Shattered

The lawyer nodded. “And when did you realize Nico Lopez was your mate?”

“After I was kidnapped for a second time. His... His reaction to finding me chained up, forced my parents and Holly to explain what happened to me, again, and why Nico run away for a bit.”

“Not before then?” he asked, his gazing turning and looking at Nico.

“I felt something for Nico the first time I saw him, but I didn’t understand it…or even know what it meant, for that matter,” Hayden whispered.

“Nico knew, though, didn’t he?”

Hayden hesitated before answering with a wobbly yes. The defense lawyer smirked in triumph as it was the first time today Hayden had shown any emotions while answering questions. “We were too far apart in age, though, so there were growing pains.” She turned to the judge. “I hate talking about this part. It brings up so many bad memories and so much guilt for me.”

The judge gave a solemn nod. “Just do your best to answer the questions, Mrs. Raferty-Lopez, it’s all the court asks for.”

“Were you aware, Mrs. Lopez, that your aunt suspected and voice her concern to your uncle Mackenzie Raferty about an inappropriate relationship between you and your mate while you were underage?”

“No, I wasn’t aware,” Hayden said, her focus on Nico.

“Really? You had no clue? Wasn’t it Holly who insisted on you going away to Turnskin University in the beginning, after smaller random incidences happened around you? Wasn’t your desire to go, against the rest of your family’s objection?”

“Yes. But—”

“Did you ever wonder why?”

“I thought she was trying to protect me. Turns out, what she was really doing was wanting to place distance between Nico and me, so she could later hand me over to her brother on a silver platter. Holly deserved an Academy Award for her performance. All those years, and never once, did she let the mask slip. She played her part to perfection,” Hayden spat in disdain. “Turnskin University was a tradition for our family. I’d been meant to go there, my family wanted precautions in place before I left home. Holly wanted me to leave sans family instruction.”

“Objection, Your Honor. I’m requesting we strike the witness’s statement from the record,” Holly’s lawyer demanded.

“What’s your reasoning? You asked a question, she answered it.”

“It’s speculation, Your Honor. It’s never been proven that Holly Geithner had any intention of handing her niece over to her brother.”

Franks stood up to address the court. “Except for the fact, Your Honor, Henry Worthington—Hazel, and Holly’s brother, and Hayden’s uncle—told Mrs. Lopez, in detail, of their entire plan once he had kidnapped her and held her captive after the gala at the Wildlife preserve.”

“Pure hearsay,” the defense lawyer volleyed back. “Only Mrs. Lopez and Mr. Worthington were privy to that conversation. Hayden Lopez could be lying.”

Franks snorted and shook his head. “If you believe she’s lying, then why bother to continue cross-examining her?”

Franks made a good point, now if the Judge only stood with them and not against them and allowed Hayden’s statement to remain.

“Objection overruled. The witness statement stands,” the judge announced after a moment of deliberation. “You may continue with your questioning, Mr. Walker.”

Franks spoke again. “Your Honor, again, we’d like to know if the defense has a point with his questions with regards to Mrs. Lopez. He seems to be going nowhere, and Mrs. Lopez has two young children, a husband, and a job she could be attending to instead of answering pointless questions.”

“I’m getting there, Your Honor,” Mr. Walker stated.

The Judge nodded.

“I’d like to circle back to your relationship with Nico and when you became mates.”

“I’m sorry, exactly what are you asking?” Hayden inquired.

“I’ll rephrase my question. I’d like to know when your relationship with Nico Lopez became sexual.”

“Fuck,” Nico hissed quietly under his breath.

Franks sprang to his feet, hollering out. “Objection, Your Honor! Mrs. Lopez is not on trial. Her sex life or when she became sexually active has no bearing on these proceedings.”

The Judge cocked a brow, glaring over his glasses at Mr. Walker. “Where you are going with this?”

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