CHAPTER 2 – THE SECRET HIDDEN INSIDE THE STUFFED RABBIT
Judge Thornton ordered everyone to remain seated.
No one objected.
Emily still held the rabbit against her chest.
The judge smiled gently.
"Emily... who gave you the bunny?"
She answered immediately.
"Daddy."
Julian's attorney stood.
"Your Honor, she's only a child."
"I am well aware of her age."
Judge Thornton's voice became icy.
"What concerns me is why every answer frightens the adults more than the child."
Emily looked down.
"Daddy hides important things inside Bunny."
Every eye turned toward the stuffed rabbit.
Vanessa suddenly rushed forward.
"Emily, give me the toy."
The child stumbled backward.
"No!"
Court security stepped between them.
Judge Thornton slowly extended her hand.
"Emily... may I see Bunny?"
The little girl hesitated...
...then nodded.
When the judge squeezed the rabbit's stomach...
she noticed fresh stitching across its side.
It had been sewn shut recently.
She carefully handed it to the court clerk.
The seam was opened.
Inside...
was a tiny USB flash drive.
Julian stopped breathing.
Vanessa whispered,
"Oh my God..."
The courtroom fell silent.
The clerk plugged the drive into the courtroom computer.
A folder appeared.
Its name:
Insurance Plan
Another folder:
Custody Strategy
A third folder:
After Divorce
The judge opened the first video.
Julian's own face appeared on the screen.
He was laughing.
Vanessa sat beside him.
Julian raised a glass.
"The judge will never suspect anything."
Vanessa smiled.
"Once Clara signs everything away, she'll have nothing."
Julian laughed again.
"And after the baby is born..."
"...I'll file for full custody."
Clara's hands instinctively covered her stomach.
The room fell into horrified silence.
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But the next video...
was even worse.
