Chapter 7
I gave a calm, deliberate smile. “And what makes you so sure your evidence and stories actually stand up in court?”
“Hmph!” Madison scoffed, eager to jump in. “Claire Whitmore has shown no remorse whatsoever. Your Honor, I urge the court to consider the harshest possible punishment.”
“Watch your tone” the judge snapped, his patience clearly wearing thin. “This is not a place for theatrics.”
Then he turned to the room. “Everyone, please pay close attention to the office surveillance footage.”
“Yes, Claire did push Ms. Reed. But the contact was minor, and there was a clear pause. In fact, Ms. Reed grabbed the table for balance.”
“Let’s enhance the clip.”
The clerk zoomed in on the footage.
And there it was–Madison bracing herself against the desk, steadying and then dramatically letting herself fall.
Clearly intentional.
The same crowd that had jeered at me just minutes earlier now turned their glares–cold and furious–toward Madison and Brandon.
They realized they’d been played–and they weren’t happy.
“Ms. Reed,” the judge asked sharply, “why did you deliberately falsify your statement to this court?”
Even Thomas looked genuinely baffled. “Why would you lie, Madison? I thought you were trying to help, not stir up more drama.
“I didn’t lie,” she said, voice thin. “Maybe my legs just gave out… I didn’t mean to fake anything.”
No one was buying it.
Brandon immediately jumped in. “She’s had leg injuries before. Sometimes she loses her balance. It’s not her fault.”
A shaky excuse–but barely enough to stop the room from exploding again.
The judge raised a hand.
“Let’s be absolutely clear: there are no ghosts. This court does not recognize superstition as legal argument.”
“I believe the truth lies in the final piece of evidence–the only one that requires no interpretation.”
He didn’t hesitate. “Please open the third folder.”
Everyone held their breath.
Inside was a single video file–and dozens of high–res still.
The timestamp?
Yesterday.
The video began.
Chapter 7
53.85%
Brandon carried the plush bear into the living room, then stepped back.
Slowly, the teddy bear began to move–its arms rising, fingers tugging at the seams–until the costume peeled away, piece
by piece.
The entire courtroom went still.
Not a sound. Not a breath. Not a single blink.
The bear costume dropped to the floor…
… Underneath stood a woman.
She turned-
And her face was unmistakable
Madison Reed.
All heads in the room turned to stare at her.
Charter 7
