The courtroom's atmosphere shifted again as the judge cleared his throat, eyes scanning the room before settling on the plaintiff's side."Proceed," he instructed, his tone clipped, as though unwilling to waste another second.
Liora kept her gaze forward, but her pulse was relentless in her ears. She could feel Evelyne's smugness radiating beside her, a heat that made Liora's skin prickle. Across the aisle, Lucien sat still too still hands folded loosely in his lap, the very picture of indifference. Yet she knew better. That calculated calm was his armor, and beneath it, his mind was likely cutting through every word, every gesture, every possible angle.
The plaintiff's representative rose, a polished man with the kind of smile meant to look harmless but was sharpened with intent. "Your Honor, the matter before the court is not a simple case of property dispute, it is a matter of moral obligation and rightful restoration of honor to the Miral name."
