Chapter 9 - Confrontation on the Steps
Adrian walked deliberately around the corner of the courthouse square. The moment his broad-shouldered frame appeared in the plaza, the flashbulbs began to pop. The local reporters, tipped off by Victoria’s office, immediately swarmed toward him with microphones extended.
""Sergeant Vance! Are the allegations of assault true?""
""Did you take your wife against her family’s wishes?""
""Why are you defying your mother’s guardianship request?""
Adrian didn't flinch. He walked straight through the throng of journalists, his posture rigid and commanding. The two private security guards positioned at the base of the stairs stepped forward to block his path, their hands resting near their concealed holsters.
""Stand aside,"" Adrian said evenly, his voice carrying over the chatter of the crowd.
""Sir, you're not permitted on the premises without an escort,"" the lead guard said, placing a heavy hand on Adrian’s chest.
Before the guard could exert any force, a booming voice echoed from the top of the courthouse steps: ""Remove your hands from an active United States Marine before I have the state marshals arrest you for obstruction of justice!""
Kenneth Sterling descended the steps with a walking cane, his silver hair swept back, flanked by two armed Federal Marshals. The security guards hesitated, then slowly lowered their hands, stepping backward.
Victoria’s composure fractured for a fraction of a second. She descended two steps, her voice adopting an exaggerated, weeping tone meant for the cameras. ""Adrian! My sweet boy, why are you doing this? We only wanted to help Clara! She wasn't well—she was confused!""
Adrian stopped five feet below his mother. The reporters fell dead silent, sensing the sheer tension radiating between mother and son.
Adrian looked up into her cold, calculating eyes. ""Clara wasn't confused, Mother. You forced a pregnant woman onto her knees to scrub your feet while Julian filmed it for your amusement.""
The reporters gasped, murmuring furiously as they swung their cameras directly toward Victoria.
""That's an outrageous lie!"" Julian shouted from behind Victoria, stepping forward angrily. ""We have the video proof! She attacked Mom!""
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Adrian reached into his pocket, pulled out the thumb drive Marcus had retrieved from the home’s primary security server early that morning, and held it high above his head for every camera to see. ""I have the unedited, twenty-minute security feed with synchronized audio from the living room ceiling cameras. Complete with my mother ordering Clara to strip off her wedding ring or face eviction.""
Victoria’s face turned an ashen shade of gray.
