Chapter 12
At ten o'clock on Monday morning, the New York Family Court building in lower Manhattan was packed with reporters.
Victoria sat at the plaintiff's table in her tailored navy suit, looking pristine, calm, and utterly confident.
Her legal team sat beside her, sorting through thick stacks of medical affidavits signed by Dr. Julian Vance.
At the front of the courtroom, Judge Margaret Walsh adjusted her spectacles as she reviewed the emergency custody petition.
"Where is the respondent, Mr. Ethan Sterling?" Judge Walsh asked, looking over the rim of her glasses at the empty defense table.
Victoria's lead attorney stood up smoothly, offering a polite, practiced bow toward the bench.
"Your Honor, Mr. Sterling has failed to appear," the attorney stated with smooth, rehearsed confidence.
"Given his erratic behavior and complete disregard for court authority, we ask for an immediate default judgment granting full custody to my client."
Before Judge Walsh could bring her wooden gavel down, the heavy double doors at the back of the courtroom burst open.
Ethan walked down the center aisle, wearing a crisp charcoal suit, flanked by two federal prosecutors and three FBI agents.
Gasps echoed through the gallery as the socialites and media reporters turned to stare at the entrance.
Victoria's smile vanished instantly, her dark eyes widening in utter disbelief as Ethan approached the bar.
"Your Honor, I apologize for my delay," Ethan said in a clear, commanding voice that resonated through the room.
"I was busy delivering state's evidence to the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York."
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Ethan laid a secure digital drive directly onto the clerk's desk in front of the judge.
"On that drive is a full confession from Donald Riggs, detailing how Victoria Vance and her family murdered my wife four years ago."
