Chapter 13 - The Trial Before the Trial
Vivian’s attorneys fought to exclude Sierra’s statements.
They argued Sierra had been pressured by her father and frightened by investigators.
They challenged the search of Vivian’s office.
They questioned whether the blue ledger was reliable.
Grace initially reacted with outrage.
“How can they pretend the ledger doesn’t matter?”
Detective Ortiz answered, “Because challenging evidence is their job.”
“So they can just say anything?”
“No. They can test whether the government obtained and interprets evidence lawfully.”
Grace crossed her arms.
“That sounds less satisfying.”
“The justice system isn’t designed for satisfaction.”
“I’ve noticed.”
Some evidence survived.
Some was limited.
The jacket itself became almost irrelevant legally.
It had opened the investigation, but the case no longer depended on identifying fabric in grainy footage.
Vivian’s emails mattered more.
Financial transfers mattered.
Sierra’s messages to Chloe mattered.
The recovered cash mattered.
The foundation’s access records mattered.
Jonathan Pierce’s cooperation mattered, though prosecutors warned jurors would need to evaluate his motives.
Grace’s role became smaller.
She liked that.
For months the scandal had wrapped itself around her identity.
Now professionals were doing their jobs without requiring Grace to constantly perform victimhood.
At school, she had a different fight.
A proposal circulated to rename the emergency fund after the Blake family.
Not Vivian.
The family generally.
Several board members argued past donations still deserved recognition.
Grace thought the idea was absurd.
At the public meeting, an elderly donor said, “We cannot erase years of philanthropy because one person is accused.”
Grace agreed.
Then added, “But emergency aid should not carry the name of a family whose influence affected who received it.”
Silence.
The fund was renamed the Northbridge Student Support Fund.
No family name.
Grace approved.
Dana teased her.
“You’re becoming very opinionated.”
“I learned from poverty.”
“You learned from me.”
“That too.”
The Millers’ finances stabilized slowly.
Dana received additional hospital hours.
She stopped working at Delaney’s six nights a week and reduced to two.
Grace continued her own shifts.
Not because she had to every week.
Because she liked earning money.
One night a customer recognized her.
“You’re that girl from Northbridge.”
Grace braced herself.
Then the woman said, “My daughter reported something at her school because she saw you speak at the board meeting.”
Grace did not know what to say.
“Is she okay?”
“She’s better.”
That stayed with Grace longer than any viral video.
Sierra’s transfer school allowed her to continue classes remotely while fulfilling court requirements.
She sent no more letters.
Grace was relieved.
Then worried about being relieved.
Mason told her this was evidence she had developed a hobby called “overthinking other people’s emotional development.”
“Shut up.”
“Doctor’s orders.”
“You’re not a doctor.”
“My mother watches medical dramas.”
Their friendship had changed.
Other students noticed before Grace did.
One afternoon Chloe, now tentatively rebuilding relationships at school after her own disciplinary consequences, asked:
“Are you and Mason dating?”
Grace nearly inhaled her water.
“No.”
Chloe raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Say the thing.”
“He looks at you differently.”
Grace felt heat in her face.
“This conversation is over.”
It was not.
Grace began noticing.
Mason waited after her shifts sometimes.
He remembered her Hollis interview date.
He carried a spare granola bar because Grace forgot lunch when stressed.
None of those things required romance.
But possibility appeared.
Grace did not pursue it.
Her life had enough plot.
Then spring arrived with two major dates.
Vivian’s trial.
And the Hollis final decision.
The trial came first.
Grace was not required to testify about the financial scheme.
She did testify regarding her missing ID and the hallway assault only because prosecutors argued those actions helped demonstrate the alleged attempt to redirect suspicion.
Vivian sat at the defense table.
She looked at Grace without expression.
Her attorney asked:
“Ms. Miller, you dislike my client’s daughter?”
Grace answered, “I dislike what Sierra did.”
“Did Sierra bully you?”
“Yes.”
“So you have reason to want the Blake family punished?”
“No.”
“No?”
“I wanted Sierra held responsible for Sierra.”
The attorney paused.
“And Mrs. Blake?”
“I want the jury to decide Mrs. Blake from evidence that has nothing to do with whether I like her.”
A few people shifted.
The attorney tried another direction.
“You come from a financially struggling household?”
“Yes.”
“You were behind on rent?”
“Yes.”
“You applied for foundation assistance?”
“Yes.”
“And you were upset it was denied.”
“After I learned the denial reason was false.”
The attorney stopped.
Grace’s poverty had once been used to imply motive for theft.
Now it was being used to imply motive for revenge.
She recognized the strategy.
She did not become defensive.
“Yes,” Grace said before leaving the stand. “My family needed money.”
The courtroom went silent.
May you like
“That doesn’t mean we took yours.”
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