Chapter 7 - The Digital Trap
Detective Miller, a weathered veteran with tired eyes and a rumpled trench coat, hurried up the center aisle straight toward the judge’s bench, ignoring the chaos around him.
“Your Honor, apologies for the interruption,” Detective Miller said, handing a printed email log to the bailiff for the judge. “We just decrypted the local hard drives seized from Mr. Albright’s home office. We found something that goes far beyond financial forgery.”
Judge Barrett took the papers, her eyes scanning the lines of text. As she read, the color in her face tightened, and her lips pressed into a thin, white line.
“Explain for the record, Detective,” Judge Barrett commanded.
Detective Miller turned to face the courtroom, his voice clear and authoritative. “The emails confirm that Mr. Albright and Ms. Shepherd weren't just planning to divorce Mrs. Albright and strip her of her assets. Two weeks ago, they consulted with a private investigator based out of Richmond—a man with a criminal record for intimidation and harassment—to dig into Mrs. Albright’s medical history.”
Penelope’s breath hitched. Her hand tightened over her bump. “My medical history?”
“Yes, ma'am,” Detective Miller confirmed, glancing sympathetically at her before looking back at the judge. “They were attempting to access your private obstetric records to find a way to induce premature labor or compromise your prenatal care while you were alone in the house, so they could claim you suffered an accidental medical emergency before the divorce was finalized.”
The courtroom erupted into absolute pandemonium. Gasps of horror and outright fury rippled through the spectators, and several senior attorneys seated in the gallery stood up in sheer disbelief.
Bianca covered her face with both hands, screaming hysterically, “That’s a lie! That was Gabriel’s idea! He hired the investigator, I told him not to do it!”
“Shut up, you stupid bitch!” Gabriel roared, lunging forward against the handcuffs that bound him to the chair, his face turning a furious, mottled purple. “You were the one who suggested it when you found out the baby would inherit half the primary trust!”
“Mr. Albright! Ms. Shepherd! Silence in this court!” Judge Barrett slammed her wooden gavel down three times with deafening force, the sharp cracks echoing like gunshots through the room.
The bailiffs stepped in, pushing Gabriel back into his seat and firmly pressing Bianca down into hers, threatening to clear the gallery if order wasn't restored instantly.
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Penelope stood frozen, the cold realization of how close she had come to losing everything—including her child—washing over her in a terrifying wave. If she hadn't overheard them, if Daisy hadn't bravely spoken up at the vending machines, if her father hadn't flagged the financial anomalies... she might not have survived the month.
Richard Vance pulled Penelope gently against his side, his arm wrapping securely around her shoulders. “You’re safe now, honey,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “They will never touch you again. I promise you that.”
