Chapter 5
The courtroom erupted into chaos.
The crowd looked like they wanted to tear me apart.
The media, of course, had a field day–broadcasting everything in real–time, fueling a wildfire of online hate.
I was getting crucified–publicly, gleefully, relentlessly.
“Order!” the judge barked, banging his gavel.
“I request the court’s attention on the second folder,” I said, my voice steady and cool.
If I dared step into this courtroom today, it was because I came fully prepared.
The judge nodded.
The clerk opened the second folder. Dozens of video files appeared.
He clicked the first one–yes, the exact footage I’d watched in the car.
The teddy bear strolled out of the guest bedroom–on its own–and started dancing in front of the living room camera.
Gasps swept across the room.
“What the hell…?”
“Is that thing… actually moving?!”
“Jesus–what kind of haunted house is this?”
Whispers exploded around us as people started realizing this wasn’t just some weird fetish. Something wasn’t right.
Madison’s smug confidence shattered instantly. Her expression cracked, and something panicked flashed through her
eyes.
Brandon’s face went pale.
“Honey,” he stammered quickly, “I–I didn’t know… There must be something wrong with the house. You were scared,
right? That’s why you wanted out, right?”
“I’ll get rid of the bear. We can work this out. We still have a chance, don’t we?”
His voice softened as he looked at me, pleading.
The judge turned to me. “Mrs. Whitmore, do you accept his reconciliation?”
I said without the slightest hesitation. “No.”
Brandon broke out in a nervous sweat.
“Claire, I–I should’ve listened to you. Let’s not fight anymore, okay? We can work through this…”
He was starting to panic.
I remained silent.
Chapter 5
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Daniel stood and addressed the judge. “Your Honor, we request to play the second video.”
The clerk clicked again.
This time, the footage showed Brandon twirling around the room with the teddy bear in his arms. Then–he dropped to one knee and offered it a bouquet of flowers like a lovesick teenager.
“You take my flowers, you’re mine now.”
“I love you, baby.”
His voice was dripping with affection, sweet and delusional.
The courtroom erupted.
“What the actual hell?”
“If I saw my man doing this, I’d lose my damn mind too.”
“There’s gotta be someone inside that bear. No way this is normal.”
The clerk kept playing–one clip after another, all showing Brandon and the teddy bear… in different rooms, different positions, different degrees of madness.
The bedroom. The kitchen. The living room.
It was disturbing. Borderline obscene.
People were blushing in their seats.
Even the judge’s expression changed–from contempt toward me, to something dangerously close to sympathy.
He wasn’t alone. The entire room now looked at me differently.
“Brandon,” Thomas finally barked, “what the hell is this?!”
“You better explain yourself. Right. Now!”
Evelyn stared at the screen, her eyes wide with disbelief, face drained of color.
Chapter 5
