CHAPTER 7 — "The Child Who Changed Everything"
The courtroom hallway fell silent.
The young woman could barely stand.
Tears streamed down her face as she clutched a folder against her chest.
"Nathan... please don't leave me alone."
Nathan froze.
His expression completely changed.
"Lily... why are you here?"
She looked at him with heartbreak.
"Because our baby deserves to know the truth."
Everyone stopped walking.
Even the police officers loosened their grip.
Judge Coleman signaled them to wait.
Lily slowly turned toward Eleanor.
"Mrs. Brooks..."
"I know you hate him."
"But before you judge him completely..."
"...there's something you deserve to know."
Nathan immediately shouted,
"No! Don't tell her!"
Lily ignored him.
She opened the folder.
Inside were dozens of medical reports.
Hospital bills.
Prescription records.
A surgery schedule.
Judge Coleman frowned.
"What is this?"
Lily's voice trembled.
"Three years ago... Nathan was diagnosed with a rare heart condition."
The crowd gasped.
"He was told he needed an experimental surgery."
"It wasn't covered by insurance."
"The cost..."
"...was nearly four million dollars."
Everyone looked at Nathan.
He closed his eyes.
Lily continued.
"He begged every bank."
"They refused."
"He sold everything he owned."
"It still wasn't enough."
Then she looked at Eleanor.
"He wanted to tell you."
"But every time he tried..."
"...he saw another scholarship ceremony."
"Another donation."
"He convinced himself..."
"...that strangers mattered more than he did."
Eleanor's face slowly crumbled.
Nathan whispered,
"I never wanted to steal at first."
"I only wanted enough time to survive."
Tears filled his eyes.
"But greed changes people."
"Once Veronica offered me easy money..."
"I stopped recognizing the man I used to be."
The hallway remained silent.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody moved.
Then Eleanor walked toward Nathan.
For a moment...
Everyone thought she would slap him.
Instead...
She gently placed her hand on his face.
"My grandson..."
"You should have asked me."
Nathan broke down.
He fell to his knees.
"I was ashamed."
"I thought asking for help meant I had already failed."
Eleanor hugged him tightly.
The cameras captured the moment.
Millions of people watching online cried with them.
But before anyone could celebrate...
A detective received an urgent phone call.
His expression instantly changed.
He looked directly at Veronica.
"There has been another transfer."
"Fifty million dollars."
"It happened..."
"...just ten minutes ago."
Veronica smiled.
For the first time since her arrest.
May you like
"Looks like..."
"...I'm not the mastermind after all."
