“Objection. My client does no such thing. His sister is a well-known photographer who takes photographs of a sexual nature. However, the girls are never present for that. And that has nothing to do with my client. He isn’t in the photos and he isn’t there for the shoots. This is a stretch brought on by false allegations,” my lawyer says.
My heart is pounding. This is the shit I knew she was going to bring up. She knows damn well the girls are not present when Kallie shoots. She has nothing else to use against me.
“That may be, but the woman Mr. Gregory is having a sexual relationship with is. There are plenty of photos of her in very promiscuous positions. Yet, she’s around them,” her lawyer says.
My blood is boiling. Of course, she would use McKinley against me. She truly is a heartless bitch. I go to speak, but my lawyer grabs my wrist, warning me to shut up.
“Your Honor, once again, that has nothing to do with Mr. Gregory. The woman he is with is irrelevant to the case. Her job is even less irrelevant. The girls aren’t in the photoshoots, come on. This is just a play to try to get power. There’s nothing here,” my lawyer says.
“I agree with Mr. Cross. The job status of all these people have no relevance in this case. You’re grasping for straws,” the judge says.
My pulse begins to calm until Sarah stands up. Her lawyer tries to get her to sit down but she refuses. She glances in my direction and smirks. Fuck, she’s about to do something.
“Your Honor, my ex-husband can paint himself a saint all he wants, but that’s not the case. He allows people to take advantage of him. He’s an emotional mess. And he’s easily manipulated. He has blinders on when it comes to seeing things for the way they truly are. He’d rather ignore the bad and focus on what little good there is.”
My heart is pounding as I look at her. I have no idea what she’s doing but I don’t fucking like it. “What the hell is she going on about?” My lawyer asks.
“I have no fucking idea,” I whisper, staring at her.
“Get on with it, Mrs. Gregory,” the judge hisses.
Hearing my last name still attached to her has my stomach churn. I hate that I blindly believed that she was worth giving my last name to. She destroyed me and she’s destroying my girls. That last name is for honorable, hardworking, loving people.
“I was made aware of the relationship between Braden and McKinley by my daughters. He didn’t even have the decency to tell me himself. Since he refused to tell me, I decided it was best I look into her myself.” Her eyes slide over to mine and my stomach sinks. “I went to her hometown and spoke with her mother. McKinley didn’t come to California looking for family. She came to use all of you so she could become the model she desperately wanted to be. She doesn’t care about you, Kallie, Blake, or the girls. She cares about money and fame. You all were just naïve enough to let her walk right in.”
“Bullshit,” I yell, jumping up.
“Braden,” my lawyer hisses.
“Order,” the judge yells, smacking his gavel.
My head is spinning and my heart stops beating. Could that be true?
“This is ridiculous, Your Honor. She’s trying to get an emotional rise out of my client that once again has nothing to do with the reason we’re here. This is about what is best for the girls. It’s not time to tear apart the people that are in Mr. Gregory’s life. Now, can we get back on track?”
The judge nods and turns to her lawyer. “Mr. Stanton, is there anything further you would like to use as actual evidence?”
Sarah hands him a piece of paper and he pushes it aside. “No, we have nothing else, Your Honor.”
“Mr. Cross, is there anything further?”
“No, Your Honor,” my lawyer says.
“An hour recess for lunch and when we return, I will have my decision,” the judge says, slamming the gavel.
When we go outside, Sarah’s mom hands me a letter and walks away. My lawyer looks at me, but I open it anyway. My heart shatters when I see it’s from McKinley’s mom, proving everything Sarah said was true.
She lied.
Chapter 19
McKinley
“Max, move a little to the right so McKinley’s breast is seen a little more,” Kallie instructs.
Max is on top of me in the bed. I have nothing on but panties, but they are covered beneath the white comforter. Max has nothing on at all. The comforter is tangled around us, covering what needs to be and showing just enough of everything else.
After he moves, he looks down at me and smirks. I smile back and Kallie snaps away. She has him kiss me, grab onto my hair, and hold my hands above my head.
“Guys, these are stunning. I think a few shots in the shower, and we’ll be done,” Kallie says.
“I’m gonna grab a water. Anyone else want one?” Max asks, jumping off me.
He moves around like he’s fully clothed and it kinda amazes me. His confidence is inspiring. We both tell him we don’t need a water and he leaves the room.
I sit up and grab the towel Kallie holds out for me. After I wrap it around myself, I stand up. “Any news from Braden, yet?” I ask.
She checks her phone again, shaking her head. “Nothing.”
“Damn,” I mumble.
Kallie tosses her arm over my shoulder as we walk into the bathroom. This studio she has is perfect. It has everything she could possibly need for an indoor shoot. In the last few months, I’ve shot here a lot and it’s a comfortable place for me. I know she likes it since it’s in her apartment.
“It’s sweet how much
