Chapter 11 - THE COMPETENCY HEARING
Eleanor testified first.
She described Julian as fragile.
She said Claire’s disappearance had broken something inside him.
She claimed Leah’s arrival reopened an old wound.
“I fear my brother is being exploited,” she said.
Julian’s attorney placed the original hospital registration before her.
“Are these your initials?”
Eleanor looked at the page.
“I do not remember.”
“Did you authorize the removal of Julian’s name?”
“I handled many documents.”
“Did you tell Julian the baby died?”
“I reported what the physician told me.”
Dr. Vale testified next.
He admitted he had not examined Julian recently.
He based the declaration on Eleanor’s descriptions and several videos.
The videos showed Julian crying at the gala.
Another showed him carrying the unfinished cradle.
A third showed him confronting the board.
Emotion had been edited into illness.
Anger had been presented as confusion.
The independent physician testified that Julian was fully competent.
Then Leah took the stand.
Eleanor’s attorney approached.
“You stand to inherit shares worth hundreds of millions.”
“I did not know those shares existed when Mrs. Mercer emptied my bag.”
“You carried a locket designed to provoke recognition.”
“I carried my mother’s property.”
“You wore the brooch Julian gave Claire.”
“I have worn it for seven years.”
“You expect the court to believe your appearance at the gala was accidental?”
“I was hired by the event planner.”
The attorney displayed Leah’s debts.
“You needed money.”
“Yes.”
“Wouldn’t recognition as a Mercer solve that?”
“So would stealing a bracelet.”
“I did not do that either.”
The judge looked toward Eleanor.
Mateo testified about the auction cabinet.
His mother’s hospital records were admitted.
The altered infant-death report appeared on the screen.
Then Claire’s recording played.
Her voice filled the courtroom.
“Eleanor told me no judge would let a hotel worker keep a Mercer baby.”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
The judge denied the competency petition.
She referred Dr. Vale to the medical board.
She also ordered preservation of every Mercer family record connected to Leah’s birth.
Outside, Julian approached Leah.
“You saved me.”
She shook her head.
“The evidence saved you.”
“Do not turn me into another locket.”
May you like
He understood.
A single person should never be forced to carry the entire truth.
