Chapter 5 - THE VIDEO
Three days later, the courthouse was surrounded by reporters.
Ethan sat beside three expensive attorneys.
Richard watched from the gallery.
Claire sat beside Marcus.
Judge Katherine Harris entered.
The defense immediately attacked.
"No physical evidence."
"No reliable footage."
"An emotional family dispute."
Marcus waited.
Then stood.
"Your Honor, we have the footage."
The courtroom went silent.
The monitor came alive.
Timestamp: 8:42 PM.
Ethan walked toward Lily.
He glanced around.
Then slipped his watch into her pink bunny purse.
A gasp moved through the courtroom.
The video continued.
Ethan pointed toward Claire.
Then came the confrontation.
The wooden sign.
The swing.
The impact.
Lily falling.
Claire screaming.
The courtroom became completely silent.
Ethan buried his face in his hands.
Marcus placed the financial records before the judge.
"The defendant fabricated the theft to support a fraudulent insurance claim intended to cover illegal gambling debts."
Judge Harris looked at Ethan.
"You assaulted a child."
Ethan said nothing.
"You framed an innocent child."
Nothing.
"You attempted to destroy evidence."
Still nothing.
The judge's voice became ice.
"Bail is revoked."
Ethan suddenly looked toward his father.
"Dad!"
Richard didn't move.
"Dad, help me!"
Two officers pulled Ethan away.
Handcuffs snapped around his wrists.
The doors closed behind him.
Claire stood silently.
She had imagined this moment for years.
She expected satisfaction.
Instead, she felt sadness.
Because Ethan hadn't fallen that day.
He had been falling for years.
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That day, the world simply stopped catching him.
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