Chapter 163. The Second Time

Tristan's POV

The courthouse hallway smelled like polished wood and something stale underneath it like secrets that had been sitting too long. It felt like the kind of place where lives unraveled in whispers instead of screams.

I paced. Back and forth. Back and forth.

Maria stood near one of the tall windows, her tablet tucked under her arm, her phone pressed against her ear for the fourth time.

“Rowan, call me back. Immediately,” she said sharply before hanging up again. She exhaled through her nose. “Straight to voicemail. Again.” She was growing frustrated as well.

My jaw tightened. Rowan never missed hearings except with me for my prelim hearings. I do remember he missed a court case once for someone else. He had shown up with a fractured wrist, which meant this wasn’t forgetfuln