The screen went black.

The technician closed the laptop.

The judge sat in silence for a long moment, her eyes fixed on Ethan.

Ethan sat with his head bowed, his hands clasped between his knees.

“Your Honor,” Vance said, standing up.

“The evidence is clear.”

“The property transfer documents were signed under extreme physical duress while the victim was incapacitated.”

“Furthermore, the signatures were obtained through fraud and physical coercion.”

The judge looked at Harris.

“Does the defense have any statement?” she asked.

Harris stood up, his shoulders slumped.

“No, Your Honor,” he said.

The judge cleared her throat and looked down at her papers.

“In light of the indisputable video evidence,” she began.

“This court finds the property transfer documents dated October twelfth to be entirely null and void.”

“The legal title of the Brooks estate is restored immediately to Natalie Brooks.”

A quiet gasp went through the gallery behind me.

I closed my eyes for a second, feeling the weight of the house lift off my shoulders.

“Further,” the judge continued, her voice sharp.

“The court orders an immediate freeze on all personal assets held by Ethan Brooks.”