Not because she feared Ethan.
But because of that device—something she had never seen before—hidden against the body of her seven-day-old baby.
“I didn’t put it there,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I swear, Ethan… I had no idea.”
Ethan glanced at her.
Just for a second.
And he believed her.
Not because he had time to question it—
But because he knew exactly how she looked when she lied.
And this… wasn’t it.
This was the face of someone realizing her child had been used to smuggle the truth into a courtroom already poisoned by lies.
“Hand it over to the court,” the judge said firmly.
Ethan didn’t move.
Richard finally reacted.
“Your Honor, that proves nothing,” he said quickly—too quickly. “Anyone could have planted something like that to create chaos and delay the sentence.”
The judge turned toward him slowly.
“Delay? This is not a death sentence, Mr. Vaughn.”
Richard swallowed.
He had spoken without thinking.
And everyone noticed.
The prosecutor’s expression shifted for the first time.
Ethan held Noah with one arm and raised the device with the other.
“Are you worried about what’s on it?” he asked, locking eyes with Richard.
“I’m concerned about the integrity of this court.”
“No,” Ethan said quietly. “You’re concerned about your name.”
Silence fell again.
Heavy. Crushing.
The kind of silence that signals the beginning of the end for a lie.
The judge extended her hand.
“Mr. Brooks, give the child to his mother and the device to the clerk. Now.”
Ethan hesitated briefly.
Then he gently placed Noah back into Olivia’s arms, with a care that made several people look away.
After that, he handed the device over.
Richard slipped his hand into his jacket pocket.
A small movement.
But Ethan saw it.
So did a security officer by the door.
“Hands where I can see them!” she shouted.
Heads snapped in his direction.
Richard slowly raised his hand.
Empty.
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