Chapter 10 - The Truth Exposed
"No... impossible!" Thorne shrieked, pointing at the screen. "That video is fabricated! They're framing me!"
"Fabricated, Mr. Thorne?"
A refined yet resolute voice rang out from the gallery.
Everyone turned. Elena stood up, leading little Lucia through the rows toward the witness stand. In her hand was a worn brown leather briefcase—the one Arthur Vance had safeguarded for fourteen months from Isabella's study.
"Your Honor," Elena stepped onto the witness stand, holding her head high. "I am Elena Vance, legal representative for the late Isabella Russo's family. Beyond the video footage, Isabella's secure briefcase contained a living will and an original agreement executed between the Thorne Corporation and the Mendoza cartel, authenticated by Victor Thorne's own fingerprint."
Judge Harrison signaled for court marshals to retrieve the documents from Elena. After a meticulous optical scan, the judge looked up, fixing his sharp gaze on Victor Thorne.
"Signatures verified. Fingerprints match," Judge Harrison declared resonantly. "Federal marshals, place Victor Thorne and prosecutor Robert Sterling under arrest immediately for conspiracy to commit murder, international criminal collusion, and obstruction of justice!"
Four federal marshals immediately lunged forward, wrenching Victor Thorne's arms back and clicking cuffs onto the Wall Street tycoon who had once ruled fearlessly.
The courtroom erupted into cheers and uproar.
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I stood unbound, my cuffs removed earlier. I looked toward the gallery.
Lucia stood watching me. Her eyes no longer held the resentment or fear of the past; they brimmed with understanding and a profound sorrow born from surviving unimaginable trauma.
