Too Late for Regret novel Chapter 82

*Tiffany Goes Too Far

Tiffany Goes Too Far

Chapter 82

Holden’s POV

The testimony was hard to watch. Tiffany was losing it, and she refused to see that Ana was right in doing this. I was the one who was actually forgotten when Tiffany was born. They adored her, as did the Caldwells. They spoiled her so much. Ana was loved from the moment she arrived, but they still got Tiffany something every time they got something for Ana. Tiffany just has a selective memory with this. She was the one that they doted on the most, not Ana. But clearly she didn’t think that was the case.

Or maybe she just wanted all their attention, and none for Ana. Which was a possibility as well. Tiffany was at pick me from before anyone even knew what that was. Our parents shouldn’t have encouraged it like they did. I glanced over at them, and I could see the pain on their faces. I can see that they are now both realizing that they enabled her too much. They’re the reason she went this far, and they felt sick about it. Tiffany’s sudden

outburst didn’t help matters.

“Ms. Vaughn, this is your second and last warning. I will hold you in contempt, and you will spend the night in jail, if you disrupt her testimony again. Counselor, please warn your client. This is a courtroom, not her home, “the judge advised.

He quickly leaned over and spoke to Tiffany, but she was furious. I honestly don’t know if she will be able to stay quiet or not. Ana’s expression is blank. She wants to get this over with, and Tiffany’s little outbursts are dragging this on. She needs to realize that our parents can’t help her get out of this. If she does get a contempt charge, she will be escorted out. I already know that she’ll end up resisting and end up in handcuffs. She needs to stop and calm down.

Ana’s attorney takes another look over at Tiffany before gently asking, “Can you go over the evidence with me? Are you up to doing that today?”

That comment let everyone here know just how much of a toll this is taking on Ana. I’m glad he cares, but Ana could have gone another route with this. Taking Tiffany to court on allegations of assault made Dad’s business take a hit, and mine as well. There were probably going to be some people who came into my restaurant only to look around and see where my sister assaulted Ana, after this gets out. I wish I could stop it, but that’s not going to happen.

I had seen some of the pictures Ana had shown us before, but that’s not what came up on the screen this time around. I knew that Ana said she had more evidence. Things that she hadn’t shown us. I see why now. I heard my mother and Alicia Caldwell catch their breath. Ana hadn’t shown us any of these pictures.

The first one was a pretty large knot on her head. It had dried blood on it and stitches as well. The picture that followed showed the medical report. Concussion, lacerations, and eight stitches had been made. I glanced over at Seth. He never mentioned that to me. Seeing his face, I realized that he didn’t know either. We were probably away at college when it occurred. I can see that her parents were now holding each other. Trying to keep from crying.

My own parents were upset. Even before she advised what happened, we already knew it was Tiffany. What other reason could there be for the photo to be up there if Tiffany wasn’t to blame? It’s her trial. Ana’s calm voice advised that Tiffany had thrown a large rock at her. All because Ana refused to call off her arranged

Tiffany Goes Too Far

marriage to me. So even after I had totally disappointed her, she still wanted to marry me?

Mo

There was so much evidence of her abuse that we had to take a break. Ana had documented everything that happened to her. Bruised ribs, arms, and legs. From being kicked and hit. She even had broken ribs, which I’m sure happened because they didn’t want her in a cast. That would have drawn a lot of attention. The Caldwells would have had questions at that point. They had both been busy with their own businesses. They hadn’t noticed that their daughter was suffering.

“Your honor. I would like to request a thirty–minute break as the next segment will take some time to get through,” her attorney requested,

“We will adjourn for lunch and return at two pm,” the judge ordered. He and the jury exited the room. Ana waited until they were gone before stepping down from the witness stand. Of course, Tiffany was going to

take advantage of the opportunity.

“You f*****g b***h. Will you not stop until you ruin me? Is that what this is about? You’re such a petty person that you waited ten years to get me back? What in the hell, Ana? You know you can’t win. The time frame is up on most of it. So what’s the purpose of your little show? Just trying to make me look bad? Or are you wanting to humiliate my parents? Or are you trying to shame my brother for not wanting to marry a fat cow? You always were, and will always be, absolutely pathetic,” Tiffany cried out as she tried to get past her attorney. He seemed surprised that she was even causing a scene like this. I guess she’s been hiding who

she is from him as well.

I was too far away. I couldn’t get to her to help her. But her husband didn’t have that issue at all. He was up and over the half–wall that separated the gallery from the front of the courtroom in seconds. Stepping in front of Ana, as Tiffany’s fist landed on him, instead of Ana. Tiffany didn’t hold back. She hit him hard. She let her emotions get the best of her. I knew this wasn’t going to be swept under the rug. If you are reading this anywhere other than Dreame, it was stolen. This copyrighted work belongs to Kat Von Beck and is called Too

Late for Regret.

“Bailiff, I want this added to the current charges. I would like the judge to include this footage for the jury to see. Clearly, Ms. Vaughn had no respect to do this here in the courtroom,” Ana’s attorney requested.

I could tell that Ana was upset that he had shielded her. I think that she wanted an excuse to hit Tiffany back. Self–defense would have been the perfect excuse to do just that. Charlie held her close to his chest, hugging her tightly against his body. He allowed Tiffany to punch him in the middle of his back. I hate that he did it. He keeps stepping in to protect her. I could see her face, and she was looking up at him as if he were her hero. She should be looking at me like that.

“I will have it completed by the time we resume this afternoon. I’ll be sure to advise the judge of what happened after he and the jury left the room. Ms. Vaughn, you’ll need to come with me, now,” the bailiff

advised.

“Why am I in trouble? I’m not going anywhere with you. I’m going to have lunch with Craig and discuss this travesty that you’re calling a trial. didn’t do anything wrong,” Tiffany cried out. Everyone else had left the gallery the minute Tiffany had rushed over to hit Ana. It was just the two families, the attorneys, and the bailiff present.

“Tiffany, you attempted to assault Ana and ended up assaulting her husband. You’re already on trial for assault. Why would you do this inside the courtroom? Let alone anywhere else? You can’t just go around putting your hands on anyone like that. Haven’t you listened to anything I’ve said to you this entire time?” her

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Tiffany Goes Too Far attorney asked.

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He seemed shocked that she would behave that way, but I’m not surprised at all. I knew she was coming for Ana the minute the judge and jury left the courtroom. I also know Ana had deliberately waited until they left before step down. Tiffany is nothing if not consistent. I just hadn’t expected Charlie to literally leap to Ana’s defense. He must have anticipated that Tiffany would try to attack Ana just like I had.

“Please, she deserved it, Craig. She’s trying to drag my name through the mud and make me look bad. Why wouldn’t I want to hit her?” Tiffany huffed out.

“You told me she had nothing, Tiffany. You swore that you had never done anything to her, and it was just a frivolous lawsuit. Is that because you thought you had gotten rid of the evidence? I should never have listened to you. I knew better than to just assume you were innocent. This trial is very serious. You could actually get time for this. You were recorded in the courtroom, assaulting someone. Why did you lie to me about everything? Don’t you know that I’m here to help you? You now have additional charges. I’ll have to explain what you did when court reconvenes,” her attorney hissed out. He was trying to speak quietly, but we

all heard him.

“Ms. Vaughn, you need to come with me now. Do not add resisting to your growing charges. Put your hands behind your back, you will be taken to a cell. Your friends are back there waiting for you,” the bailiff told her. “Mom, please help me. Don’t let him do this to me. I don’t want to be put in a cell again. Dad, please call another attorney. We can get an extension on my trial if you fire Craig. He’s not helping me at all. Not like he supposed to,” Tiffany cried out.

The bailiff called in backup, and my sister was finally handcuffed and escorted away a few minutes after that. She was calling out instructions to our parents all the way out the door. Until it finally shut, and the courtroom was quiet again.

My father then cleared his throat and suggested, “Is it possible for us to go have lunch at Holden’s restaurant? My treat. I wanted to discuss the next steps with the attorneys. I know that Tiffany has done some despicable things, but she’s still my daughter. I would like for her to be sent away to marry the man Naomi has picked out for her. I can promise you’that she won’t return and bother you again. Would that be an option? She’s made a lot of mistakes, and it’s clear that she needs therapy. We will get that for her, and that will help. The man that we’ve chosen for her to marry seems like he will be able to keep her in line. He’s no pushover,” my father asked.

“You can speak to Rodney about it, and he can discuss it with me later. He knows what I want out of this. I’m sorry, we won’t be having lunch with you. I’ve already made plans to go to lunch with my husband,” Ana’s curt reply let my father know that she wasn’t going to waste her time letting them try to force her into letting

Tiffany go.

I don’t blame Ana for refusing to meet for lunch. My parents would be spending the whole time trying to guilt her into complying with their wishes. I know as well as they do that Tiffany deserves to be held accountable for what she did to Ana. We don’t even know what’s going to happen when court resumes.

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