Chapter 1 - The Public Accusation
Victoria suddenly pointed across the crowded courtroom at me.
Her shrill voice echoed off the tall marble walls.
"She's a fraud!" Victoria screamed to the gallery.
"She never served a single day in the military!"
Every spectator in the room turned to stare at me.
Press reporters leaned forward on their polished wooden benches.
Camera shutters clicked rapidly in the suffocating quiet room.
I sat perfectly rigid in my dark Army dress uniform.
My gold brass buttons gleamed under bright ceiling lights.
I slowly gripped the lapels of my dark jacket.
My knuckles turned pure white from the intense pressure.
I swallowed hard, holding back tears of deep anger.
My heart pounded violently against my aching rib cage.
Victoria stood at the defense table in her blazer.
Her beige blazer looked crisp, expensive, and completely pristine.
Her face was twisted into a malicious, triumphant sneer.
She looked at the judge with fake motherly concern.
"She bought those medals online to deceive this court!"
My attorney leaned over to whisper in my ear.
"Commander Bennett, please do not react to her words."
I did not utter a single word in reply.
I slowly reached up to my crisp white collar.
My steady fingers unbuttoned the top two golden fasteners.
I firmly pulled open the front of my jacket.
A thick, jagged cross-shaped scar covered my chest.
The deep red mark stretched across my pale skin.
It was a permanent reminder of a brutal battlefield explosion.
The entire courtroom fell into a heavy, dead silence.
The judge paused, dropping his pen onto his desk.
Spectators gasped loudly in pure, unadulterated visual shock.
Victoria took one aggressive step forward toward the bar.
She refused to back down from her wicked lie.
Her eyes narrowed into slits of pure, venomous hatred.
"Those scars are fake!" Victoria shouted at the judge.
"She had plastic surgery to forge those combat wounds!"
Shocked murmurs rippled through the wooden gallery seats instantly.
People exchanged nervous, confused looks across the aisle rows.
I calmly pulled my uniform collar back into position.
I fastened the top brass buttons with steady hands.
I looked up at the large clock on wall.
The black second hand ticked steadily toward twelve o'clock.
My attorney watched my calm demeanor in complete confusion.
"Commander, why are you staring at the wall clock?"
I remained completely silent, keeping my eyes fixed high.
The heavy oak courtroom doors slowly swung open wide.
A loud creak echoed through the silent marble hall.
Everyone in the room instinctively turned toward the entrance.
Two high-ranking officers stepped into the sunlit doorway.
Victoria's confident, malicious expression began to crack fast.
I remained perfectly still in my leather high chair.
May you like
"Right on time," I whispered beneath my breath softly.
📖 Chapter 2 uncovers the secret military investigation unfolding behind the courtroom doors. Keep reading before the truth vanishes forever. 👇
