Chapter 7 - The Grand Jury IndictmentThree weeks after the pool incident, the neon orange dye had finally begun to fade from Corbin and Brielle’s skin, leaving behind patchy, pale spots that made them look even more pathetic. But as their chemical brand vanished, their legal nightmare reached its absolute peak.
The courtroom at the county courthouse was packed with local press and business observers. The story of the "Neon Betrayal" had become an elite social scandal, and everyone wanted to see the final downfall of Corbin Vance.
I sat in the front row of the gallery, dressed in an immaculate dark navy suit, surrounded by my legal team.
At the defense table sat Corbin and Brielle. They were seated at opposite ends of the long desk, refusing to look at or speak to each other. Both had court-appointed public defenders after their high-priced private attorneys withdrew due to unpaid fees.
The grand jury foreperson stood up to read the indictment.
"On count one, grand larceny: True bill. On count two, identity theft and forgery: True bill. On count three, corporate embezzlement and wire fraud: True bill."
Brielle buried her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably as federal marshals stepped forward to place metal handcuffs around her wrists.
Corbin stared blankly at the judge, his jaw trembling as his bail was officially revoked due to flight risk concerns. The man who had strutted around my pool acting like a titan of industry was led away in orange prison jumpsuits—a fitting shade of orange to match the memory of his betrayal.
As Corbin was led past the gallery railing, he paused for a brief second and looked at me. His eyes were hollow, filled with a mixture of terror, regret, and utter defeat.
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"I'm sorry, Nora," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the courtroom chatter.
I didn't answer. I didn't scowl, and I didn't smile. I simply gave him a crisp, professional nod—the same nod I give to a failed lab experiment before disposing of the waste.
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