Brandon's POV
The reaction was immediate.
A sharp wave of gasps swept through the courtroom.
The sound seemed to rise from every direction at once, colliding with the high ceiling before dissolving into a storm of whispers. Heads turned. Pens stopped moving. Reporters looked up from their notebooks. Even the spectators at the back leaned forward, desperate not to miss a single word.
I felt the atmosphere shift beneath my feet.
It was subtle at first, then unmistakable.
The air grew heavier.
The silence that followed became almost oppressive, as though the courtroom itself was holding its breath.
The defense attorney, who had been pacing confidently moments ago, stopped mid-step.
For the first time since the cross-examination began, a flicker of uncertainty crossed his face.
He adjusted his glasses slowly, buying himself a few seconds, then turned back to Elizabeth with a measured expression.
His voice was calmer now.
More deliberate.
"So…"
