Shattered Pride

By the time Valerie burst through the doorway, breathless and still clutching her car keys, court officers were already filing out with velvet cases tucked under their arms. Every last gem Declan had ever pressed into her palm was gone.

“Valerie, those jewels were a gift from Declan. They can’t just seize them like furniture,” Loretta blurted, half chasing the officials down the hall. “Go find Dec