Cross took the stand.
Not as a plaintiff.
As a defendant.
Sterling had filed countercharges.
And Cross was fighting for his freedom.
But before that, Damien and Christabel made a choice that surprised everyone.
---
The courthouse was packed.
Cross sat at the defendant's table.
His lawyers were whispering frantically.
Sterling stood at the podium, calm and collected.
But before he could speak, Damien stood.
"Your Honor, I'd like to address the court."
The judge looked surprised.
"This is highly irregular, Mr. Moreau."
"I know. But I think it's important."
She nodded.
"Proceed."
---
Damien walked to the center of the room.
He looked at Cross.
Then at Marcus Webb, sitting in the back.
Then at the jury.
"I've done terrible things in my life. I won't deny that. I've hurt people. I've broken people. I've destroyed people."
The room was silent.
"Marcus Webb was one of those people. I beat him. I hung him upside down. I threatened him. I was wrong."
Marcus's eyes were wet.
---
"But Marcus Webb also wronged me. He lied about me. He conspired with my enemy. He tried to destroy my family."
Marcus didn't look away.
"So we're even."
The room buzzed.
"We're even. And I don't want to be even anymore. I want to be better."
---
Damien turned to Marcus.
"I'm not going to press charges. I'm not going to ruin your career. I'm not going to destroy your life."
Marcus's hands were shaking.
"I'm going to give you a second chance. Because someone gave me a second chance once. And it saved my life."
---
Sterling stepped forward.
"Your Honor, the Moreaus have decided not to pursue criminal charges against Dr. Webb. They've also decided to help him rebuild his practice."
The judge looked at Marcus.
"Is this true, Dr. Webb?"
Marcus stood.
His voice was hoarse.
"Yes, Your Honor. They've been more than generous."
"And how do you respond?"
Marcus looked at Damien.
"Thank you. I don't deserve it."
"No," Damien said. "You don't. But you're getting it anyway."
---
Christabel stood.
"Your Honor, we've also filed countercharges against Victor Cross. For fraud. For conspiracy. For attempted extortion."
The judge nodded.
"We're asking for $50 million in damages."
Cross's face went pale.
"Fifty million?"
"Fifty million. The amount you tried to steal from us."
---
Cross's lawyer stood.
"Your Honor, this is outrageous."
"What's outrageous," Sterling said, "is that Victor Cross has been stealing for years. From his own company. From his own employees. From the people who trusted him."
He walked to the evidence table.
"We have the records. The offshore accounts. The shell companies. The lies."
Cross's face was white.
"We have everything."
---
The judge looked at Cross.
"Mr. Cross, do you have anything to say?"
Cross stood.
His hands were shaking.
"This is a witch hunt."
"This is justice."
"You have no proof."
"We have plenty."
The judge banged her gavel.
"Enough. We'll reconvene tomorrow. Both sides will present their evidence. Dismissed."
---
After court, Marcus Webb waited in the hallway.
Damien and Christabel walked toward him.
"You didn't have to do that," Marcus said.
"Do what?"
"Help me. Defend me. Give me money."
"We didn't do it for you."
"Then who did you do it for?"
Christabel looked at him.
"For ourselves. Because we know what it's like to be broken and given a second chance."
---
Marcus's eyes were wet.
"I don't deserve this."
"Probably not."
"But I'm going to use it. To help people. To make amends. To be better."
Damien nodded.
"That's all any of us can do."
---
Sterling walked up.
"The countersuit is strong. Cross is going to lose."
"How much will we get?"
"Fifty million. Maybe more."
"And if we don't win?"
"We'll win."
---
That night, Christabel put Lena to bed.
Not Damien. Her.
Lena was walking everywhere now.
"Da," she said.
"Dada."
"Da da da."
Christabel laughed.
"Your father is a good man. Even when he doesn't think he is."
Lena smiled.
Then she fell.
Then she got up.
Then she kept walking.
---
Damien appeared in the doorway.
"She's getting stronger."
"She's determined."
"She's yours."
"She's ours."
He walked to her.
Put his arm around her.
"Today was a good day."
"Today was a hard day."
"Same thing."
"Different intention."
---
They stood over the crib together.
Lena was asleep. Her tiny chest rose and fell.
"Ten million dollars," Christabel said.
"For Marcus."
"To rebuild his practice."
"To give him a second chance."
She looked at him.
"Just like someone gave us a second chance."
---
The next morning, the money was wired.
Marcus Webb's account showed a deposit of $10 million.
He stared at the screen.
His hands were shaking.
His eyes were wet.
He picked up the phone.
Called Christabel.
"I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything."
"Yes, I do."
"Then say thank you."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Now go help people."