Chapter summaries Mistakes Were Made Lucy Score

Chapter 25 Summary: Everyone is Pissed Off

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Gage arrives at the Dominion courthouse with Declan for Valerie Hillport’s preliminary hearing. Valerie is terrified, but Gage calms her by focusing on Laura’s wishes. Laura unexpectedly appears in the courtroom to show support, followed by Gage’s parents who discover Gage is representing the woman responsible for their son’s death. District Attorney Tarini, enraged by Gage’s conflict of interest, confronts him. Gage texts Zoey for comfort. Valerie and Gage enter court; Laura takes Valerie’s hand, surprising everyone. The chapter closes with a family group text demanding answers.

Key Events

  • Gage and Declan wait outside the courtroom; Declan shows nervousness about being in court for the first time.
  • Valerie arrives with her parents and introduces them to Gage; Gage reassures them he will do his best.
  • Gage consoles a panicked Valerie, reminding her that the hearing is only a formality and that they are acting for Laura.
  • Laura wheels off the elevator, insisting on attending the hearing despite Gage and Valerie’s objections.
  • Gage’s parents (Mr. and Mrs. Bishop) arrive, shocked to find Gage representing Valerie.
  • District Attorney Tarini confronts Gage, accusing him of hypocrisy and threatening to have him removed from the case.
  • Gage texts Zoey, who offers support and humor.
  • Inside the courtroom, Laura reaches over the railing and holds Valerie’s hand, which eases the tension for Gage.
  • The chapter ends with a family group text chain: Cam, Levi, and others try to figure out why their parents aren’t answering, and Laura tells them to stop calling.

Character Development

  • Gage Bishop: Struggles with guilt over representing Valerie after spending years pushing for charges. He admits to himself that a “small ugly part” of him wants Valerie to suffer. His professional composure is tested by his parents’ arrival and Tarini’s accusations. His texts with Zoey show he relies on her to lift his spirits.
  • Laura Bishop: Demonstrates unwavering forgiveness and loyalty by showing up in court to support Valerie, even knowing the painful evidence will be discussed. She stands up to her brother and parents, asserting her own choices.
  • Valerie Hillport: Overwhelmed by fear and guilt, yet willing to follow Laura’s wishes. Her fear of losing Laura as a friend is as strong as her fear of jail time.
  • Tarini: The district attorney is furious at Gage’s reversal, calling him a “colossal jackass” and threatening to exploit any weakness in his defense. Her anger underscores the ethical dilemma.
  • Zoey Moody: Though only present via text, Zoey’s humor and affection provide Gage with a moment of relief, highlighting her role as an emotional anchor.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Forgiveness vs. Justice: Laura’s willingness to forgive Valerie clashes with Gage’s prior pursuit of punishment and Tarini’s insistence on prosecuting. The courtroom becomes a stage for this conflict.
  • Guilt and Shame: Both Gage and Valerie are consumed by guilt—Gage for his ulterior motives, Valerie for the accident. Their shared shame is acknowledged but set aside for Laura’s sake.
  • Family Loyalty and Confrontation: The arrival of Gage’s parents forces a reckoning. Laura and Gage must defend their choices against parental disapproval, a dynamic that persists into adulthood.
  • The Courtroom as Microcosm: The rundown interior of the courthouse mirrors the frayed relationships and moral compromises of the characters.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter advances the legal plot by staging the preliminary hearing, but its emotional weight comes from the confrontations. Tarini’s warning that Gage’s personal conflict could damage Valerie’s defense raises the stakes. Laura’s public act of holding Valerie’s hand in front of everyone—including their parents and the judge—cements the unconventional alliance and sets up the central question: can Gage effectively defend a woman he once wanted to punish? The chapter also deepens the romance subplot through Gage’s reliance on Zoey.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. What reason does Gage give for representing Valerie despite his previous efforts to have her charged?
    Gage says he is doing it because Laura asked him to. He tells Valerie, “This is the only thing she’s asked of me since it happened,” and he commits to giving the best defense possible.

  2. How does Tarini react when she learns Gage is Valerie’s lawyer?
    Tarini is furious. She accuses Gage of being a hypocrite, points out that he built her argument for prosecution, and warns that she will take advantage of every mistake he makes. She tells him he should have said no and threatens to have him removed from the case.

  3. What does Laura’s act of holding Valerie’s hand signify in the courtroom?
    It publicly demonstrates that the victim’s family supports the defendant. Gage notices the surprised reactions from the judge, the DA, and his own parents, and it helps him breathe easier, suggesting that this visible forgiveness makes the situation less adversarial for him personally.

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