Chapter 7 - Criminal Reckoning
Two weeks later, the final showdown took place not in a private legal office, but in the State District Courthouse.
The courtroom was packed with journalists, corporate executives, and law enforcement officers. Felicity sat at the defense table, wearing a dark designer dress, her face an unreadable mask of cold rage. Julian sat beside her, visibly sweating and trembling.
The State Prosecutor spent three hours presenting the contents of the encrypted hard drive, accompanied by Clara Miller's sworn testimony and Winston Perry’s forensic analysis.
When the prosecutor played the raw audio recording of Felicity laughing with her brother about how easy it had been to manipulate my jealousy, a wave of audible gasps rippled through the gallery.
"He's so blind," Felicity's recorded voice echoed through the speakers of the courtroom. "All I had to do was drop a few fake photos and a necklace, and he threw his pregnant wife out on the street without a second thought."
I closed my eyes, the shame burning hot in my chest. Beside me, Josephine reached over and gently wrapped her fingers around mine. I looked at her in surprise. Her grip was firm, supportive, and forgiving.
The judge didn't even hesitate. Before the defense could present their closing arguments, he issued an immediate order for the arrest of both Felicity and Julian Danforth on multiple federal and state counts, denying bail due to flight risk.
As the bailiffs stepped forward and placed handcuffs on Felicity’s wrists, she turned and locked eyes with me.
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"You ruined everything, Bennett!" she screamed as she was pulled toward the holding cells. "You belonged to me!"
I didn't answer. I simply turned my back on her, focusing entirely on the woman holding my hand.
