He slowly looked up over his glasses at the small blond boy standing tall before him. The courtroom fell into a tense, suffocating silence.
My blood ran cold.
“Ethan, sweetheart, please sit down,” I whispered urgently, gently tugging his sleeve. I didn’t want him scolded. I didn’t want him exposed to his uncles’ cruelty.
But my son didn’t move.
Instead, he reached into his blazer pocket and pulled out several wrinkled papers—folded carelessly, the way only a child folds something precious.
From across the room, Mark let out a mocking laugh.
“Now even children are pretending to be attorneys,” he sneered, nudging Daniel, who laughed along.
That sound hurt more than any insult.
“Order!” Judge Caldwell snapped, silencing them instantly. His eyes stayed fixed on Ethan.
“Go on, young man.”
Ethan took a deep breath, puffing out his chest just like he’d seen me do when I was scared.
“I have something important to show you,” he said softly.
“My grandma gave it to me before she went to heaven.”