Chapter 20 - The Stand
The courtroom was absolutely packed, buzzing with journalists, legal analysts, and curious onlookers. The air was thick with tension as Maya walked down the central aisle, escorted by heavily armed court bailiffs. She wore a simple, elegant navy blue dress Julian had bought for her, her head held high despite the terrifying pounding of her heart.
She took her seat in the witness stand, placing her right hand on the Bible and swearing to tell the absolute truth.
Across the room, Victoria sat at the defense table, wearing a conservative gray suit, glaring daggers at Maya. Marcus sat beside her, refusing to make eye contact with anyone in the room.
The prosecuting attorney, a sharp, intimidating woman named Sarah Jenkins, approached the podium.
"Please state your name for the record," Jenkins began calmly.
"Maya Lin," she answered, her voice echoing clearly through the microphone.
"Ms. Lin, please tell the jury exactly what you witnessed on the night of the Sterling Vanguard charity gala."
Maya took a deep breath, looking briefly at Julian, who sat in the front row, offering her a steady, encouraging nod. She turned to the jury and spoke with absolute clarity. She described the strange behavior, the ruffled cuff, the moment she saw the pill drop, and the sheer terror of knocking the glass away.
Jenkins played the cell phone video on a massive screen for the entire courtroom to see. The high-definition footage was utterly damning. The ruffled cuff was clearly visible, unequivocally tying Marcus to the act.
"Ms. Lin," Jenkins asked loudly, "did you have any prior relationship with Mr. Sterling or the defendants before that night?"
"No, objection!" the defense attorney shouted immediately.
"Overruled," the judge stated flatly. "You may answer the question."
May you like
"No," Maya answered firmly. "I had never met them in my life. I was just doing my job, and I couldn't let a man die right in front of me."
The jury looked entirely captivated. Maya had delivered her truth perfectly.
