CHAPTER 474: THE FIGHT FOR HANNAH'S CUSTODY

With its cold marble and quiet tension, the courtroom felt heavy with the upcoming decision. Rows of wooden benches were filled with observers, their eyes fixed on the proceedings at the front. The judge's bench, an imposing dark wood structure, commanded attention while the American flag, red, white, and blue, stood proudly to one side. Brandon and Nelly sat at the defendants' table, their hands clasped tightly together. Nelly's face was pale but firm; her eyes were filled with tension and fear. Brandon sat beside her, his posture straight, his expression intense. Across from them, the social services representative shuffled papers, preparing to make their case, and the prosecutor, Rebecca Williams, shuffled documents, preparing to make her case. The couple's lawyer, Margaret Bryan, sat opposite the table. Her appearance was as polished as her office: her tailored suit, carefully styled hair, and calm demeanor projected an aura of competence and authority. She glanced over the thick