Chapter 16 - Disposable Allies
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"Turn it off," Judge Holloway instructed the court technician calmly.
The room fell into absolute silence.
Samuel Ortega raised one final document from his desk. "Your Honor, we have one last exhibit. A draft legal indemnification agreement recovered from Mr. Caldwell’s office server, dated two weeks ago."
Samuel walked over to the defense table and laid the document directly in front of Celeste Arden’s attorney.
"This draft agreement," Samuel explained to the court, "was prepared by Mr. Caldwell’s personal attorneys. It places 100% of the financial liability and criminal responsibility for Alpine Legacy Management’s transactions entirely on Ms. Celeste Arden."
Celeste gasped, leaning forward as far as her handcuffs would allow. "What?!"
"In the event that the forged signatures were ever discovered by law enforcement," Samuel revealed, looking directly at Celeste, "Mr. Caldwell had already framed Ms. Arden as an rogue, independent consultant who forged the papers without his knowledge or consent."
Celeste turned her head toward Preston, her face twisting into absolute, unadulterated shock.
"You bastard!" Celeste shrieked at Preston, her voice breaking into hysterical sobs. "You told me you loved me! You told me we were going to raise his child together in the Hamptons!"
"Shut up, Celeste!" Preston hissed through his teeth, shrinking back into his chair.
"He told me you signed those papers willingly, Nora!" Celeste cried out toward the petitioner’s table, tears pouring down her face. "He told me you were losing your mind! He forged my digital signature on those indemnity forms too!"
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Celeste turned to her defense lawyer. "I want to talk to the district attorney! I will tell them everything! I will give them every text, every wire transfer, every email! Put him in prison!"
The unholy alliance that had spent eight months conspiring to destroy Nora Caldwell had collapsed in less than ten minutes. The greed, betrayal, and deceit had consumed itself from the inside out.
