…as if the slap had hit pause on reality itself, every eye in the courtroom wide with shock. My vision blurred with tears, and a chorus of gasps rippled through the benches. I clutched my cheek with trembling fingers, the sting a blazing reminder that vulnerability had accompanied me into this room, but so had a strength I was only beginning to recognize.
Judge Sullivan, a seasoned man known for his fairness and calm demeanor, rose from his bench, his face a study in controlled outrage. His gaze swept over Marcus and Elara like a storm about to erupt.
“Enough,” he said, his voice steady but carrying a weight that demanded attention. “Mrs. Vale, please take a seat.” His eyes met mine, holding them as if to reassure me that he saw what had just happened, that my pain and dignity were not invisible here.
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