“Excuse me, Your Honor,” he began, clutching a small velvet pouch in his hands. “I need to say something.”

The room fell silent, all eyes on the young boy. His father, Adam Hamilton, shifted uncomfortably in his seat, while Margaret glared, her expression a mix of disbelief and annoyance.

“What is it, young man?” the judge asked gently.

“I found this in my grandmother’s room,” Ethan said, holding up the velvet pouch. “It’s the jewel everyone’s talking about. I saw Grandma put it in her drawer the day she said it went missing. She said it was for safekeeping.”