Chapter 5: The Witness Who Heard Everything
The woman walked toward the front of the courtroom.
She was in her sixties, with short gray hair and a serious expression.
Daniel looked like he had seen a ghost.
“No,” he whispered.
Vanessa turned toward him.
“Who is that?””
Daniel did not answer.
He couldn’t.
Judge Mercer looked at the woman.
“Please state your name.””
“Margaret Ellis.””
“And your connection to this case?””
Margaret looked at Daniel.
“I used to work for Mr. Vance.””
Daniel’s lawyer immediately stood.
“Your Honor, we object. We have not been informed of this witness.””
The judge looked at me.
“Mrs. Vance?””
I nodded.
“That is because Mrs. Ellis only agreed to come forward yesterday.””
The judge looked at Margaret.
“Are you willing to testify?””
“Yes.””
She stepped forward.
Daniel’s face became tense.
Margaret looked nervous, but determined.
“I worked as an assistant at Heritage Renewal Holdings.””
The judge looked at the documents.
“The same company connected to the property transaction?””
“Yes.””
Daniel’s attorney walked closer.
“Ms. Ellis, are you saying my client was involved with this company?””
Margaret looked at him.
“Yes.””
“How?””
She took a breath.
“He was the person giving instructions.””
Daniel shook his head.
“That’s a lie.””
Margaret flinched.
But she continued.
“He told us the house would be transferred soon.””
The judge looked at Daniel.
“Transferred from whom?””
Margaret answered quietly.
“His mother.””
The courtroom became silent.
Daniel laughed nervously.
“This is ridiculous.””
I watched him.
That nervous laugh.
That was something he inherited from his father.
A habit of pretending everything was funny when the truth became dangerous.
The judge looked at Margaret.
“What instructions did Mr. Vance give you?””
She opened her folder.
“He asked me to prepare documents that would make the sale appear legitimate.””
Daniel’s attorney interrupted.
“Are you claiming my client ordered fraud?””
Margaret looked down.
“I am saying he asked me to create documents that were not accurate.””
The judge leaned forward.
“Do you have proof?””
Margaret handed over a small device.
“Voice recordings.””
Daniel’s face changed instantly.
“Wait.””
For the first time, his voice sounded afraid.
“Those recordings are illegal.””
The judge looked at him.
“Are they?””
Daniel stopped.
His lawyer whispered something to him.
But it was too late.
Everyone had noticed his reaction.
I looked at him.
“You knew what was on that device.””
Daniel stared at me.
“You set this up.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You did.””
The judge allowed the recording to be reviewed.
The courtroom listened.
Daniel’s voice filled the room.
“Once my mother is declared unable to manage her affairs, everything becomes easier.””
Nobody moved.
Then his voice continued.
“The house is worth too much to sit empty.””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Not because she was shocked.
Because she was hearing the truth from the person she trusted most.
The recording ended.
Judge Mercer looked at Daniel.
“Mr. Vance?””
Daniel had no answer.
The lawyer beside him looked frustrated.
“Daniel, you need to tell me if there is anything else.””
Daniel stayed silent.
And that silence told everyone more than words could.
The judge turned to me.
“Mrs. Vance, I have to ask.””
“Yes, Your Honor?””
“Why did you not report this immediately?””
The question was fair.
I knew everyone wondered the same thing.
Why had I waited?
Why had I allowed my own son to drag me into court?
I looked at Daniel.
“Because I wanted to understand how far he was willing to go.””
Daniel looked at me.
His eyes were filled with anger now.
Not guilt.
Anger.
“You were testing me?””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“I was giving you a chance.””
The courtroom became quiet.
“A chance to stop.””
Daniel looked away.
And that hurt more than anything.
Because he knew I was telling the truth.
I had given him chances.
More than he deserved.
Judge Mercer closed the file.
“This hearing will continue after further review.””
Everyone began standing.
But before we left, Daniel walked past my table.
He stopped.
For a second, I thought he might apologize.
I was wrong.
“You think you won?””
I looked at him.
“Daniel…”
His voice lowered.
“You still don’t know everything.””
I studied his face.
“What does that mean?””
He smiled slightly.
A cold, familiar smile.
“The house wasn’t the only thing I found.””
Then he walked away.
And for the first time that day…
I felt uncertain.
Because I knew my son.
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If Daniel was still confident after everything that happened…
It meant he was hiding something much bigger.
