Part 2
For one suspended second, the black USB drive in Ethan Reed’s small hand seemed heavier than anything else in the courtroom.
He held it between two fingers, his knuckles pale, his face unreadable.
Olivia’s breath caught.
Jonathan’s smile vanished.
Savannah sat up straight for the first time all morning, her manicured fingers tightening around her phone. Victoria Reed’s chin lifted, but the confidence in her eyes flickered.
The judge leaned forward slowly.
“What is that, Ethan?”
Ethan swallowed.
“It’s evidence, Your Honor.”
A murmur rippled through the courtroom.
Jonathan’s attorney immediately stood.
“Objection. Your Honor, this is highly irregular. A minor child cannot simply introduce unidentified digital material in the middle of a custody proceeding—”
The judge raised one hand.
“Sit down, Mr. Keller.”
“But, Your Honor—”
“Sit. Down.”
The attorney obeyed, stiff with irritation.
The judge looked back at Ethan. His voice softened, but his gaze sharpened.
“Ethan, where did you get this?”
Ethan glanced at Mason.
Mason’s face had gone white.
Then Ethan looked at his mother.
Olivia shook her head faintly, not because she wanted him to stop, but because she was terrified. Terrified for him. Terrified of what Jonathan would do. Terrified of the way her son stood there like a tiny soldier walking into battle alone.
“I found it,” Ethan said. “In Dad’s home office.”
Jonathan released a quiet laugh.
Not loud. Not panicked.
