Chapter 10 - The Silver Star Truth Emerges
Major Hayes stepped back toward the witness stand at the judge’s invitation, offering additional testimony regarding the highest medal. “The Silver Star is not an honor that can be purchased online or fabricated by any civilian impersonator, Your Honor,” Daniel stated.
“It requires rigorous eyewitness verification, combat command sign-off, and direct congressional notification through military channels,” Daniel added forcefully. “Captain Bennett earned every single fiber of that ribbon through extraordinary heroism under enemy fire.”
The jury forewoman nodded slowly, her expression hardening as she looked at Caleb and Victoria with undisguised contempt and disgust. The defense’s entire argument of stolen valor and forged credentials looked utterly ridiculous and malicious in light of the major's testimony.
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“The court accepts Major Hayes’ testimony and all declassified military documents as absolute, undisputed fact,” Judge Thomas declared formally. He struck his gavel once against the wooden block, signaling that the first phase of the trial had reached a definitive conclusion.
Victoria’s shoulders shook as silent, desperate tears spilled down her powdered cheeks, realizing she had traded her integrity for a losing battle. Her lifelong favoritism toward Caleb had blinded her to the extraordinary daughter she had tried so callously to destroy.
