He didn’t look surprised.

He simply watched the agents with a cold, calculated interest.

The agent opened his folder and turned toward Marissa.

The courtroom fell into an absolute, breathless silence.

“Marissa Vale,” Agent Harris said, his voice level and devoid of emotion.

He slid a document from the folder.

“You are under arrest for interstate wire fraud, conspiracy to commit estate theft, and the abandonment of minor children across state lines.”

Marissa shrank back against the wooden defense table.

“This is absurd,” she hissed, though her voice lacked its usual venom. “Vance, do something.”

Vance did not move.

He stared at his own hands, which were trembling on the glossy table.

The second agent stepped forward, pulling a pair of steel handcuffs from his belt.

The metallic click echoed clearly in the quiet room.

“Your Honor,” Vance managed to say, looking up at the bench. “My client is—”

“Your client is facing federal charges, Mr. Vance,” Judge Thomas interrupted.

The judge leaned forward, her gaze hard behind her spectacles.

“And from what I have just seen on that tape, you may want to secure your own representation very quickly.”