When her father pinned her to the marble floor and her sister kicked her ribs, police tactical boots finally smashed through the glass doors.

Courtroom 4B of the State Supreme Courthouse was packed to capacity. Reporters, news cameras, and financial analysts filled the wooden pews, whispering frantically as armed guards led Arthur Vance into the room.

Arthur wore an orange prison jumpsuit, his wrists handcuffed to a leather waist chain. His hair was messy, his shoulders slumped, though his eyes still burned with dark, bitter resentment as he was forced to sit at the defense table.

Beside him sat a court-appointed public defender who looked completely overwhelmed by the mountain of evidence files stacked on his desk.

In the front row of the gallery sat Rebecca, sitting beside Detective Reed. She wore a dark blue dress, her dark hair pulled back neatly, her posture stoic and poised.

Judge Thomas Sterling hit his wooden gavel against the block with a resounding BANG.

“State versus Arthur Vance,” Judge Sterling read aloud, adjusting his reading glasses. “We are here for a emergency bail review following the filing of forty-two felony counts of financial fraud, wire theft, and one count of felony aggravated strangulation.”

Arthur’s public defender stood up nervously. “Your Honor... my client is a lifelong resident of this state, a business leader, and a father. The domestic incident on Tuesday was a tragic misunderstanding within a grieving family. We request bail be set at a reasonable amount so Mr. Vance can prepare his defense.”

The State Prosecutor stood up immediately. “Your Honor, the State strongly opposes bail in any amount. Mr. Vance poses an extreme flight risk and an immediate physical danger to the primary witness.”

The prosecutor gestured toward Rebecca in the gallery.

“Furthermore,” the prosecutor continued, “we have submitted audio recordings recovered from the defendant’s cell phone prior to his arrest, where he explicitly threatened to flee to a non-extradition territory if his financial audits were exposed.”

Judge Sterling leaned forward, his expression turning stern as he looked down at Arthur. “Mr. Vance, I have reviewed the medical report regarding your daughter’s injuries, as well as the initial evidence submitted by the Department of Justice. The violent nature of your arrest, combined with the staggering scale of the alleged financial theft, leaves this court with only one choice.”

Judge Sterling raised his gavel.

“Bail is denied. The defendant will remain in custody at the County Correctional Facility pending trial.”

BANG.

Arthur snapped. He stood up violently against his waist chain, his chair crashing backward onto the floor.

“REBECCA!” Arthur roared, turning toward the gallery, his face turning dark purple as the guards grabbed his shoulders. “YOU TRAITOR! I GAVE YOU LIFE! YOU WILL BURN IN HELL FOR THIS!”

Rebecca didn't blink. She didn't look away. She sat in the front row, watching her father thrash against four armed guards as they dragged him out through the side exit doors, his screams echoing down the cold marble corridor until the heavy steel door slammed shut.