Cameras were lined up along the back wall, their lenses pointed at the wooden podium.

I saw Miranda standing in the far corner of the room.

Her face was pale and drawn, her usual cold composure completely shattered.

Two high-priced defense attorneys stood beside her, talking in hushed tones.

She looked at me as I entered, her eyes burning with pure hatred.

I did not look away.

I stood beside my grandfather near the front row of seats.

Julian walked up to the podium, his posture straight and confident.

The room went completely silent as he adjusted the microphones.

The only sound was the rapid clicking of camera shutters.

“Good afternoon,” Julian said, his voice echoing clearly through the speakers.

“I have called this press conference to address the future of the Sterling Group.”

He paused, looking out at the crowd of journalists.

“For thirty years, this company has built its reputation on trust and excellence.”

“But today, we must confront a difficult truth about our past.”

The reporters began to write furiously in their notebooks.

“An internal investigation has revealed that the foundation of this company was built on fraud.”