The bailiff connected it to the courtroom screen.
The first image appeared: a still frame from a video dated two weeks before my surgery.
My stomach dropped.
The bailiff pressed play.
Nick was sitting in our living room, leaning forward, speaking in a low voice to someone we couldn’t see — a woman.
“I’m telling you,” he said in the recording, “once the transplant’s done, I’ll finally be free.”
The courtroom went silent.
“I’ve already met with a lawyer. Assets are getting moved. The custody strategy is in place. She won’t see it coming. I’ll leave her with nothing.”
The woman laughed softly. “And she really doesn’t suspect anything?”
“She’s too trusting,” Nick replied. “Always has been.”
Then his eyes shifted.
“Hold on,” he whispered. “I need to see what Chloe is doing.”
“Chloe? What are you doing?” he asked more loudly.
The camera angle shifted as small hands adjusted it.
“I’m trying to learn to record things with my tablet.”
A few gasps filled the courtroom.
Nick forced a smile. “That’s great, sweetheart. Let Daddy see.”
The video jerked violently. The image blurred. The tablet hit the floor with a crack.
“Oh no,” Nick said quickly. “It slipped.”
Then his voice lowered.
“Chloe, listen to me. Don’t say anything to Mommy about the call Daddy just had. It’s adult stuff. You wouldn’t understand.”
Silence.
“If you keep it between us, I’ll buy you a brand-new tablet. The newest one. Deal?”
My chest tightened.
“Okay,” Chloe answered hesitantly.
The video ended.
Nick jumped to his feet. “That’s edited! It’s taken out of context!”
“Sit down,” the judge said sharply.
“It’s a lie! She doesn’t even know how to use that thing properly!”
The gavel struck. “Daniel, will you control your client?”
Daniel muttered something, and Nick sank back into his seat.
The judge leaned forward. “This recording appears to be dated before the medical procedure in question.”
“Yes, Your Honor,” the bailiff confirmed.
Daniel cleared his throat. “Your Honor, digital files can be manipulated.”
“They can,” the judge replied evenly. “However, the burden now shifts. This court will order forensic verification if necessary.”
He turned to Nick. “Do you deny making these statements?”
Nick hesitated. “It wasn’t like that.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
For the first time in months, I felt hope.
