Bang!
The gavel came down hard.
The sharp crack echoed through the courtroom like a gunshot, jolting everyone back to their senses.
Judge Harold Sullivan's face was iron-gray. The composure he had cultivated over decades on the bench was gone, replaced by a barely restrained fury burning in his eyes.
This anger was not directed at Lucas Carter.
It was aimed at those who had dared to treat the law as a tradable commodity.
"Under New York Criminal Procedure Law," Judge Sullivan said coldly, each word clipped and precise,
"if new facts arise during trial proceedings that may materially affect conviction or sentencing, the court is authorized to suspend deliberation immediately."
His gaze sharpened.
"Furthermore, under Penal Law §215 and §210, the fabrication of evidence and subornation of perjury constitute serious felonies."
His eyes swept across the courtroom—first landing on Zachary Kang, slumped on the floor like a discarded shell, then snapping toward the man seated rigidly in the gallery, face drained of color.
"Court officers."
"Yes, Your Honor!"
Two uniformed court officers stepped forward in unison, their voices resounding.
"Take Zachary Kang into custody on suspicion of evidence fabrication, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy."
"And," Judge Sullivan continued, voice cutting like steel,
"detain Dr. William Grant, forensic pathologist formerly affiliated with the Metropolitan Forensic Science Center, for suspected falsification of forensic reports."
There was no hesitation.
No room for negotiation.
Under the unblinking gaze of live broadcast cameras watched by tens of millions nationwide, the officers moved.
Click.
Cold steel cuffs snapped shut around Kang's wrists.
The once-glorious elite attorney—who had commanded courtrooms with arrogance and swagger—was hauled upright, his face colorless, eyes hollow.
In the gallery, Dr. Grant's knees nearly gave out as an officer closed in.
"Dr. William Grant," the officer said evenly,
"you are suspected of falsifying official forensic documents and obstructing judicial proceedings. You're coming with us."
Another pair of handcuffs fell.
Clean. Final. Merciless.
A high-profile sexual assault retrial had just turned into a live arrest for judicial corruption.
For half a second, the courtroom was silent.
Then the livestream detonated.
"THIS IS REAL. THEY'RE ACTUALLY ARRESTING PEOPLE IN COURT."
"I WILL NEVER SEE A TRIAL LIKE THIS AGAIN."
"From accuser to accomplice to lawyer to forensic expert—Lucas Carter wiped the board clean."
"This isn't a lawyer. This is an executioner with a law license."
Judge Sullivan struck the gavel again, silencing the roar.
"Order!"
He took a slow breath, eyes sweeping over the shaken courtroom.
"Given the extraordinary circumstances that have arisen," he said firmly,
"this court declares a one-hour recess."
The break did nothing to cool the fire.
Across the country, the internet erupted.
Legal analyst Professor Leonard Roth, a towering figure in American jurisprudence, restarted his livestream less than ten minutes later.
The title was blunt—almost self-mocking:
I Was Wrong. A Public Apology to Attorney Lucas Carter — And a Review of a Historic Trial
Viewership surged past ten million in minutes.
Roth sat stiffly before the camera, expression complex—embarrassment, awe, and reluctant admiration colliding.
"I owe an apology," he said plainly.
"To Ethan Walker. And to his counsel, Lucas Carter."
He bowed his head.
"I relied on experience. On patterns. And Attorney Carter demonstrated today that experience collapses in the face of absolute evidence."
His tone grew animated.
"First layer: the dismantling of the alleged romantic relationship. Second layer: exposure of coordinated false testimony. Third layer: extortion and motive."
"You thought that was the climax?" Roth shook his head.
"No. That was just the setup."
"The injury report—something everyone assumed was untouchable—became the blade that cut down opposing counsel himself. That was the killing stroke."
Inside a private judicial lounge, the atmosphere was entirely different.
Lily sat stiffly, her face flushed, eyes shining with disbelief and adrenaline.
Across from her, Lucas sat calmly, fingers tapping the table in a slow, steady rhythm.
"We… we won," Lily said softly, voice trembling.
"Kang was arrested. The forensic report collapsed. It's over, right?"
Lucas lifted his gaze.
"Who told you it's over?"
Lily froze.
"Kang," Lucas continued evenly,
"is not the architect. He's a tool."
Her breath caught.
"A lesson," he said calmly.
"Never focus only on the person swinging the knife. Look at who handed it to them—and who looked away."
A chill ran through her spine.
"…The first judge," she whispered.
"The one who handled the original trial."
Lucas didn't answer.
He simply lifted his cup, took a slow sip, and set it down.
Silence.
But that silence confirmed everything.
An hour later, court reconvened.
The defendant's seat was empty.
So was the plaintiff's.
The livestream audience leaned forward, expecting closure.
Judge Sullivan glanced down at the case file, preparing to speak—
"Your Honor," a voice cut in.
Lucas Carter stood once more.
Straightened his tie.
Met the bench without flinching.
"We have an additional application."
The courtroom went dead quiet.
Judge Sullivan's brow tightened.
"Proceed."
Lucas's voice was calm. Surgical.
"Today's proceedings have established a pattern of coordinated judicial misconduct—false accusation, manufactured evidence, and collusion between legal professionals."
He paused.
"These actions did not occur in a vacuum."
He raised a final document.
"Pursuant to New York Criminal Procedure Law §14 and relevant judicial ethics statutes, we formally request the recusal and investigation of Judge Michael Bennett, the presiding judge in the original trial, on suspicion of perverting the course of justice."
The words fell like a blade.
"We submitted corroborating evidence and investigative leads to the Judicial Conduct Commission prior to today's hearing."
Time seemed to stop.
For the first time, Judge Sullivan's expression shifted—shock flickering across his face.
The livestream chat went blank.
Three full seconds of nothing.
Then—
An explosion.
Lucas Carter hadn't stopped at exposing liars.
He was tearing open the bench itself.
From accuser
to accomplice
to lawyer
to forensic expert
to judge—
He wasn't overturning a verdict.
He was burning the rot out of the system, layer by layer.