Chapter 262 A Father’s Arrival

Chapter 262: Chapter 262 A Father’s Arrival

Across town, in a luxury hotel suite overlooking Palo Alto, Lainey stood beside Vincent near the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The city lights glittered below them, softened by the glass and the late-night fog.

"Vincent," Lainey said carefully. "Serena’s hearing is tomorrow. Are you going?"

Vincent kept his eyes on the lights. "I’ll feel better if I’m there."

"If the lawyers miss something, I can help," he added. "Maybe I can warn her before it’s too late."

She swirled the wine in her glass and forced a small laugh. "You really care about her, don’t you? I thought your firm needed you back in D.C."

Vincent glanced out the window.

"My team can handle things. I’m not needed there right now."

"Right."

She kept her smile in place, but her thoughts were already racing.

She could not let Vincent sit through that hearing.

Every ugly detail about Serena would be dragged into the open. The financial transfers, the affair, the staged fall, and the damage done to Eira would be laid out for the court to examine.

If Vincent heard all of it, he might finally see Serena without the tears and the fragile act.

And if he did, Lainey would lose her hold over him.

She needed Serena to keep Vincent close. She needed him angry, protective, and too invested to walk away.

But how could she keep him out of court?

Then she thought of her parents.

Lainey picked up her phone. "Mom just texted me. I should call her back."

"Go ahead."

Lainey slipped through the glass doors onto the balcony and called her mother.

"Hey, Mom. Miss me yet?"

"Of course I miss you. You and your brother barely come home anymore."

"We’ll be back soon. I just have to finish the Carter Group shoot." Lainey leaned against the railing and kept her voice light. "Vincent could come home early, too. He isn’t tied down at the moment. Maybe he could finally think about settling down."

"That boy is thirty and still acts like marriage is a prison sentence."

"You know Dad is the one person Vincent actually listens to. Maybe you should let him try talking some sense into him."

Her mother lowered her voice. "Speaking of your father, he gets into Palo Alto first thing tomorrow."

Lainey’s fingers tightened around the phone. "Tomorrow? Why didn’t he tell us?"

"Because he wants to surprise you. He thinks something, or someone, is keeping you both in California."

"It’s just work, Mom."

"Sweetheart, you don’t have to hide things from me." Clara laughed softly. "This is about Killian, isn’t it?"

Lainey said nothing.

Her mother’s voice warmed with certainty. "Don’t worry. I’ll help you."

A real flicker of relief moved through Lainey’s chest.

"Thanks, Mom."

They talked for several more minutes before ending the call.

Lainey remained on the balcony after the screen went dark. Her father would arrive before the hearing. He was strict, influential, and impossible for Vincent to ignore.

If she played this right, Vincent would not make it to court.

And Serena would still have him exactly where she wanted him.

--

Back inside, Lainey found Vincent still typing on his phone.

"Mom just told me Dad is flying in tomorrow morning." She let her shoulders sink. "You probably won’t be able to make the hearing."

Vincent lowered his phone. "Why is he coming here without telling us?"

"He thinks we’ve been spending too much time in California and getting mixed up in something that could damage the family." Lainey bit her lip and lowered her voice. "Mom thinks I’m here because of Killian. But you..."

She stepped closer.

"Serena’s case is already all over the news. If Dad sees you sitting in that courtroom, he’ll know you crossed the country for her. He’ll decide she’s nothing but trouble."

Vincent’s face tightened.

"I know you care about her," Lainey continued. "And Sebastian hurt her. She needs someone in her corner right now. But if you push Dad too far, you may lose the power to help her later."

Vincent looked toward the windows.

"We’re Crawfords," Lainey said softly. "We don’t make reckless moves just because we’re angry."

"Then what am I supposed to do about the hearing?"

"Let Mason handle it. I’ll stay with Serena from beginning to end. The second the judge makes a ruling, you’ll be the first person I call."

Vincent studied her face. "You promise?"

"Of course."

He let out a slow breath."Fine."

Lainey waited until he turned away.

Then the corner of her mouth lifted.

The plan had worked.