Sadie reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. The screen was marred with cracks. Her hands trembled as she held it out.
“It’s on here,” she said quietly. “I recorded it the night... the night it happened.”
Rosalind’s voice cut through the room like a blade. “Your Honor, this is highly unusual and inconsistent with standard courtroom practice. The defense cannot introduce evidence that has not been disclosed—”
“Ms. Winthrop,” Judge Markham interrupted, his tone brooking no argument. “Given the nature of Ms. Nelson’s testimony and the claim of proof, I’m going to review this recording in chambers before making any rulings. You’ll have the opportunity to object once I’ve seen it.”
Rosalind’s jaw tightened, but she nodded stiffly.
The bailiff stepped forward and took Sadie’s phone, connecting it to the screen mounted on the wall. The room fell silent as he queued up the video.
I stood frozen, my heart pounding in my chest.
What the fuck is on that recording?
The screen flickered to life.
The video was shaky at first, the angle low, as if the phone had been propped up on a counter or table. The timestamp in the corner read 2:24AM.
Then I saw him.
Alan Sanders.
He was standing in the middle of what looked like akitchen, his face twisted in rage. His voice came through the speakers, loud and venomous.
“You think you can just leave me? You think you’re going anywhere?”
Alan shifted his stance slightly, and I saw Sadie.
She was backing away from him, her hands raised defensively. Her voice was shaking.
“Alan, please. Just let me go. I don’t want to fight.”
“You don’t get to decide that!” Alan shouted, lunging forward.
Sadie stumbled back, and Alan grabbed her by the arm, yanking her toward him. She cried out, trying to pull away, but he was stronger.
“You’re mine,” he snarled. “You don’t get to walk away from me. You don’t get to embarrass me like this.”
“Let go of me!” Sadie screamed, her voice breaking.
Alan’s hand shot out and struck her across the face.
The sound of the slap echoed through the chamber.
I felt my hands curl into fists.
Sadie fell to the floor, and Alan loomed over her, his fists clenched.
“You’re nothing without me,” he spat. “You’re pathetic. Worthless. No one else would ever want you.”
Sadie was sobbing now, her hands covering her face.
And then Alan reached down and grabbed her by the throat, lifting her off the floor.
“I should’ve done this a long time ago,” he said, his voice cold. “Maybe then you’d learn to fucking listen.”
Sadie’s hands clawed at his, her legs kicking weakly. Her face was turning red. Suddenly, Alan’s hand released her throat, and he dropped her. Sadie hit the floor hard, gasping for air, her body heaving as she struggled to breathe. Alan stepped back, looking down at her with disgust.
