The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

After a lengthy opening statement by the judge, silence was commanded with a gavel's thud. Jerry Perez, representing the plaintiff, was the first to speak.

Most of the evidence had been previously submitted, but they managed to scrape together something new. "Our witness, Tobin, grew up in a modest household. His mother worked the assembly line at a local factory, and his father was a construction worker. It's hard for me to believe that they had the means to bribe a distinguished teacher at a prestigious school."

"There's always a way to find money if you squeeze hard enough," retorted the defense. "Besides, it was Tobin himself who pointed fingers at Julian Littleton. Are you insinuating that Tobin perjured himself?" With the current public sentiment, Jerry knew winning against Kipling would be an uphill battle.

Even with a looming prison sentence for another matter, Kipling's defense attorney diligently countered Jerry's arguments.

Shaking his head, Jerry continued, "Our witness did indeed commit perjury, but under duress. Your Honor, here's a video recorded in desperation by our witness. It shows Kipling collaborating with local thugs, threatening Tobin's parents. Tobin's father was severely injured by them. Forced into a corner, Tobin, then only seventeen, had no choice."

This was a revelation Tobin had only recalled years later.

When his father was dragged into their house by Kipling's men, Tobin was fiddling with a phone he had found. In his panic, he accidentally started recording. Fear of retaliation kept him from going public initially.

It was only after Vivienne assured him and his parents of their safety that Tobin retrieved the old phone.

Years had passed, and the video was grainy, but its broadcast began to unravel the mystery that had plagued the Littleton family for years.

The sight of Tobin, crying and begging on his knees before Kipling, touched not only the jury but also viewers of the live stream.

monster does this? How did he ever get into a position of

to Kipling's

kind of coerced testimony shouldn't be held

into a corner. Blame Kipling, that beast!" Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNøvel.ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the

couldn't see the barrage of online comments, they could only gauge the room's sentiment by the jury's reactions, which were filled with sympathy for

a grown man, Tobin adjusted his glasses before preempting the defense's response, "I know I did wrong, and I've been repenting for my actions. I don't expect forgiveness from Julian's family. If the

officially reporting Kipling for forming gangs, threatening the community, and framing an educator.

should've

when had the

no longer concealing his true nature. He lunged towards

judge, unfazed, called for order.

this case, had nothing left to defend

the jury, Zinnia, couldn't contain herself, "Your Honor, don't believe them! Julian's misconduct with my daughter cannot be denied. He got what he deserved!" The courtroom erupted with claims

was our

It was his misconduct that led to a

dare they even file

courtroom, despite the judge's attempts

stood, "I had no choice. Julian was a

my mistakes, but my intentions were noble. I never meant harm to Tobin's family; it was all