Inside the courtroom, I felt insignificant.

Daniel spoke as though every word had been meticulously practiced.

“My client has been the primary financial provider,” he stated. “Rachel has demonstrated erratic behavior, vindictiveness, and instability following major surgery.”

I clutched the edge of the table. Of course I was emotional. I had lost a kidney and a marriage in the same week.

When I attempted to speak, Daniel objected.

“Speculation.”

“Emotional conjecture.”

“Irrelevant.”

The judge nodded.

I wanted to scream.

Without an attorney, I barely had the authority to complete a sentence.

Then Chloe’s voice suddenly cut through the tension.

“Your Honor? May I say something?”

Every head in the room turned.

My heart sank.

She rose from the bench beside my sister. My little girl looked so small, yet she wasn’t trembling.

“Can I show you something that my mom doesn’t know about? Please?”

The judge studied her closely.

“Young lady, you understand you’re under oath? That whatever you show or say must be the truth?”

“Yes, sir,” she answered. Her voice shook slightly, but she remained standing.

He nodded. “All right. Bring it here.”

Chloe stepped forward, unzipped her backpack, and pulled out her tablet. One corner was cracked. I silently scolded myself for never noticing it before.

The bailiff connected it to the courtroom screen.

I had no idea what she was about to reveal.

When the first image appeared on the large screen, it felt as though the entire courtroom stopped breathing.

The display showed a still frame.

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