It was as if the entire room took a collective breath, waiting for the next move. Leonard Griffin’s confident facade showed signs of cracking. His eyes darted around the room, searching for support that was no longer there. The revelation had sapped his charm, his ease; it was clear that whatever game he was playing was nearing its conclusion.

Judge Dawson leaned forward, her expression both kind and firm. “Thank you, Isla, for sharing that with us. It’s important for the court to know how you feel.”