Chapter 10: Dawn at the Courthouse
The morning light broke gray and cold over the limestone steps of the county courthouse as Julian and I climbed the wide staircase, flanked by Brutus on a heavy leather leash. A small crowd of reporters and corporate fixers had already gathered near the bronze double doors, but the moment the massive Cane Corso bared his teeth and let out a deep, chest-rumbling warning growl, the path cleared instantly. Nobody wanted to test the animal's patience, and even Marcus's lead attorney stepped back into the shadows of the portico, his briefcase clutched tightly to his chest.
Inside the oak-paneled chambers of Judge Miller, the atmosphere was thick with tension. The judge adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses, looking down from the elevated bench at the stack of digital printouts and historical ledgers we had laid out across the wooden counter.
"Mr. Vance," Judge Miller said, his voice dry and authoritative as he addressed Julian. "You are asking this court to issue an emergency injunction freezing all asset transfers by the Moretti Foundation, citing forged corporate signatures and unauthorized liquidation. Do you realize the gravity of these accusations against your own business partners?"
"I do, Your Honor," Julian replied clearly, standing straight and tall beside me with his hands resting calmly on the edge of the bench. He didn't look back at the gallery where Marcus and his legal team sat fuming. "We have provided the original 1994 charter containing the un-amended family trust clauses, alongside biometric transfer records proving that the current board majority acted under fraudulent pretenses while Mr. Moretti was incapacitated."
Judge Miller flipped through the pages, his expression remaining neutral before he picked up his heavy wooden gavel and gave it a single, sharp rap against the sounding block.
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"The emergency injunction is granted," the judge announced, the words echoing off the high ceiling. "All asset liquidations are halted pending a full forensic audit. Furthermore, temporary executive management of the Moretti estate is formally assigned to the joint trusteeship of Miss Sophia Moretti and Mr. Julian Vance."
A collective gasp rippled through the courtroom gallery, but I didn't care about the whispers or the angry glare Marcus shot us from the back row. I looked up at Julian, seeing a genuine, unmasked smile touch the corners of his mouth for the very first time. We had won the first battle, but as we turned to walk out of the courthouse doors, I knew the real fight to save my father's legacy was only just beginning.
