Chapter 2 - The House of Cards CollapsesChaos erupted instantly.
"Objection! Your Honor, this is an illegal stunt!" the prosecutor shrieked, jumping to his feet, papers flying from his hands. "We have no verification of these men's credentials! This is a civilian court, not a military playground!"
Judge Harrison slammed his gavel down three times, the wood cracking with a sharp, furious pop. "Silence! Order in this courtroom right now, or I will clear the gallery!"
The lead officer—Captain Vance—didn't blink. He reached into his leather binder and slid a thick stack of heavy-bond, gold-sealed federal documents across the judge's bench.
"Verification is right there, Your Honor," Captain Vance said smoothly. "Signed by the Secretary of Defense, countersigned by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Furthermore, the documents establish that the accused—Caleb Bennett—and several corporate entities associated with Bennett Meridian Systems are currently under active federal investigation for treasonous export violations, industrial espionage, and systematic perjury."
Victoria clutched the edges of the witness stand so hard her knuckles turned stark white. Her breath came in short, ragged gasps. "It's a forgery! Mara hacked the system! She's a criminal! Arrest her!" she screamed, her voice cracking into a desperate, feral shriek that stripped away all her refined socialite composure.
Caleb lunged backward, his chair nearly tipping over as he tried to back away from the federal agents. "I don't know them! This is a setup! Dad left everything to me! She’s faking it all!"
I walked slowly around the defense table, my heels clicking a steady rhythm. I didn't look at my mother. I didn't look at the judge. I walked right up to Caleb, stopping just inches from his sweating, panic-stricken face.
"You spent twelve years pretending I was dead, Caleb," I said softly, keeping my voice low, meant only for him. "You and Mother forgot one crucial rule about the people who go to war so you can sit safely in boardrooms: we never leave our missions unfinished."
"Bailiff," Judge Harrison commanded, his face pale as he scanned the first page of the federal dossier. "Take the witness into custody for perjury. And someone cuff Mr. Bennett before he tries to run out the side exit."
Caleb didn't even get the chance to speak. Two federal agents moved in with terrifying speed, clicking steel handcuffs onto his wrists before he could take a single step.
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The courtroom cameras flashed frantically. The reporters were typing at lightning speed, live-streaming the collapse of the Bennett family empire to millions of viewers nationwide.
And this was only act one.
