Lauren approached her with surprising gentleness.

“Ms. Brooks, regarding the apartment and the vehicle—were you aware of the true source of the funding?”

Rachel gripped the edges of the witness stand until her knuckles turned white. “In the beginning… Ethan told me his business was booming. He said he wanted to take care of me. I believed him.”

“And when did that belief change?” Rachel swallowed hard. “About three months before the trip to Mexico. I saw a bank statement left on his dashboard. It had Olivia’s name on it.”

“Yet you continued to live in the apartment? You continued to accept the financial benefits?” “Yes,” Rachel whispered, tears finally spilling over her lashes.

Ethan slammed his hand on the defense table. “You lying bitch! You said we were a team!” “Silence in my courtroom, Mr. Bennett!” Judge Whitmore roared, her gavel cracking like a gunshot.