Chapter 7 - The Trial of Public Opinion
Over the next three weeks, the fallout was catastrophic for the Vance empire. Following the live broadcast of Ethan's extortion attempt, his firm’s board of directors voted unanimously to remove him as CEO. European investors pulled over $100 million in funding, triggering a federal audit into his personal and corporate accounts.
The tabloids that had previously slandered Emma were forced to publish front-page retractions. Clara’s testimony, alongside medical records from four years ago, painted an undeniable picture of a serial abuser who used his wealth to silence his victims.
Emma sat in a packed courtroom for the pre-trial hearing. Ethan sat at the defense table in an orange jumpsuit, his hair unkempt, his arrogant demeanor replaced by frantic whispers to his high-priced defense team.
When Emma took the witness stand, Ethan’s lawyer attempted to cross-examine her, trying to paint her actions at the wedding as calculated sabotage.
"Ms. Emma, isn't it true that you planned this dramatic exit to gain leverage in a prenuptial agreement?" the lawyer asked sneeringly.
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Emma looked straight at the jury, her voice calm, clear, and unshakeable. "I didn't plan to have my face smashed into my own wedding cake. I didn't plan to be threatened in front of my family. What I did plan was to survive. I realized that if I walked out of that ballroom as a victim, I would spend the rest of my life running. So I walked out as a free woman."
The courtroom remained so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The judge denied Ethan bail, citing him as a flight risk and a danger to society pending his trial.
