The Manhattan courthouse loomed like a stone sentinel, its granite facade unyielding under the gray September sky. Inside, Courtroom 12 was a crucible of tension, its polished wood benches filled with reporters, investors, and a few loyal Norwood supporters. Byano sat at the plaintiff's table, his tailored suit a stark contrast to the storm raging within. At fifty-two, he'd faced boardroom wars and media firestorms, but today's divorce trial against Victoria was a battle for his family's soul. The anonymous threats, the brick through the mansion window, Sophia's vandalized studio, and Marcus's near-tragic relapse had all led to this moment. Harlan's latest find—a recording of Lydia Hale, Victoria's lawyer's assistant, plotting with Apex Corp's Victor Kane to "end Norwood's reign"—was a bombshell, but using it in court required precision.
Evelyn Pierce, Byano's attorney, sat beside him, her sharp eyes scanning her notes. Across the aisle, Victoria and Richard Langston conferred, her face a mask of calm defiance, her blonde hair swept into an elegant chignon. The gallery buzzed, reporters scribbling as the judge, a stern woman with silver hair, took her seat. Elena and Sophia sat behind Byano, their presence a quiet strength. Marcus, still fragile from his therapy program, had stayed at the penthouse under security, but his absence weighed on Byano's heart.
The trial began with Langston's opening statement, his voice smooth and venomous. "Your Honor, Victoria Norwood has endured decades of neglect, her husband prioritizing his empire over family. She seeks fair compensation—half his assets, alimony, and support for their son's ongoing care." He painted Byano as a distant tyrant, twisting Marcus's depression into evidence of paternal failure.
Evelyn countered, her tone measured but lethal. "Mr. Norwood built his wealth through sacrifice, not neglect. Victoria's demands are a calculated attempt to exploit their son's struggles and destabilize a family empire. We have evidence of her orchestrating a smear campaign, including payments to saboteurs."
The courtroom hummed as Evelyn called her first witness: Harlan Graves. He took the stand, his weathered face resolute, detailing the wire transfer from Apex to Lydia Hale and the emails linking Langston's firm to the tabloid leaks. "Mrs. Norwood's actions," Harlan said, "were designed to undermine Mr. Norwood's business and family, using their son as leverage."
Victoria's composure faltered, her eyes darting to Langston. The judge admitted the wire transfer as evidence, but Langston objected, claiming it was circumstantial. Then came the bombshell—Evelyn played the recording of Lydia and Kane, their voices clear: "Byano's past deal will bury him. Keep Victoria in line, and we'll split the profits when Norwood falls." Gasps rippled through the gallery; Victoria's face paled.
Byano watched, his mind racing. The "past deal"—a bribe from his startup days, long rectified—was a ghost he'd thought buried. Had Victoria fed it to Kane? Or was Claire Montague, the tech executive with her coded emails, the true link? He leaned to Evelyn, whispering, "Push Lydia. She's the weak point."
Lydia Hale took the stand, her posture rigid, her eyes avoiding Victoria's. Under Evelyn's relentless questioning, she cracked, admitting to delivering documents to Marcus to "plant doubts" and coordinating with a PR firm for the tabloid hits. "Mrs. Norwood instructed me," Lydia stammered. "She said it was for her son's future."
Langston scrambled, redirecting to paint Lydia as a rogue actor, but the damage was done. Elena gripped Sophia's hand, their eyes fierce with vindication. Byano's thoughts drifted to Marcus, his journal's raw lines: I'm drowning in their shadows. This trial wasn't just about assets—it was about freeing his son from Victoria's manipulation.
The day ended with Victoria's testimony looming. She rose, her voice steady but laced with venom. "Byano abandoned us for his empire. I fought for my children, for our share." She claimed emotional abuse, her tears practiced, but Evelyn's cross-examination was brutal, exposing Victoria's lavish spending and neglect of Marcus.
As the judge adjourned, Byano caught Victoria's gaze—cold, unyielding. Outside, reporters swarmed, but Elena and Sophia flanked him, their unity a shield. "She's losing, Dad," Elena whispered. "We've got this."
But as they left, Byano's phone buzzed—a new anonymous email: The courtroom won't save you. Your past is coming.
Cliffhanger: Harlan uncovers a hidden document in Lydia's files, detailing Byano's old bribe—and naming Claire Montague as the source.