The morning sun fought through the lingering London haze, casting sharp yellow beams across the stone steps of the Royal Courts of Justice. The cool air was crisp and damp, carrying the quiet hum of passing black cabs and the rustle of dry autumn leaves blowing along the pavement.
Inside the high-ceilinged marble corridor outside Courtroom 4, the atmosphere was thick with quiet tension.
Ethan stood near the grand oak doors wearing a sharp dark grey suit, his tie neatly knotted at his throat. His arm was wrapped securely around Sophia’s waist, pulling her close against his side. Sophia looked breathtaking and composed in a dark navy tailored dress, her long hair pinned up in a graceful bun.
Beside them sat Evelyn Vance on a cushioned wooden bench. The elderly woman wore a dark green coat
