Chapter 7 - The Courthouse Steps
The marble steps of the downtown civil courthouse were swarming with reporters, camera crews, and flashbulbs by eight-forty-five the following morning.
Julian stepped out of his black SUV, shielding Elena, who chose to stand by his side despite her pregnancy, demonstrating a united, unbreakable front.
Flashbulbs popped blindingly in their faces as they walked up the steps.
Evelyn and Chloe were already waiting near the entrance, flanked by an expensive, high-profile attorney named Marcus Vance.
Evelyn put on a theatrical display of heartbreak, dabbing a dry eye with a lace handkerchief as the cameras captured her "distressed mother" persona.
'Julian! How could you do this to your own family?' Evelyn cried out loudly for the benefit of the press corps.
'We only came to visit, and you locked us out!'
Julian didn't break stride.
He didn't yell, and he didn't feed into the sensationalism.
He simply looked his mother dead in the eye with a cold, expressionless stare that made her abruptly stop her performance.
'Save the tears for the judge, Mother,' Julian said quietly as he walked past her into the cool interior of the courthouse.
Arthur Vance was waiting for them inside the secure corridor, holding a thick leather briefcase packed with the definitive evidence.
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'The judge is ready for us in Courtroom 4B,' Arthur announced, offering them an encouraging nod.
'Let's go end this.'
