The courtroom was heavy with tension, the kind of oppressive silence that only comes when everyone knows the inevitable outcome but still holds onto that final glimmer of hope. The judge's voice rang out, deep and final, as the verdict was delivered.

"Guilty."

The word cut through the room like a blade, sharp and unforgiving. Michael's breath hitched in his throat, his hands gripping the edge of the bench so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Olivia was seated beside him, her hand tightly clutching his, their fingers intertwined in a desperate attempt to hold each other steady. But even she couldn't stop the small gasp that escaped her lips, her body trembling as she tried to fight back the tears threatening to spill over.

The murmur of the courtroom swelled around them—people reacting to the verdict, reporters scribbling furiously, attorneys discussing next steps—but for Michael and Olivia, it all faded into a dull buzz. Their world had just crumbled in front of them.

Lincoln stood at the defendant's table, staring straight ahead. His face was unreadable, hardened by years of survival, but his eyes—his eyes betrayed him. There was fear there. And pain. His gaze flicked over to where Michael and Olivia sat, a mixture of sorrow and regret weighing heavily on him.

Olivia swallowed hard, tears finally slipping down her cheeks as she watched Lincoln, her heart breaking not just for Michael, but for Lincoln too. He was like a big brother to her, always there, always looking out for them. And now, in the blink of an eye, he was being taken away for a crime she didn't want to believe he committed.

Michael stood suddenly, his body moving before his mind could catch up. He didn't care about the stares or the murmurs around him. All he could think about was reaching Lincoln, needing to hear the words from his brother's own mouth.

"Wait," Michael choked out, his voice hoarse and cracking as he pushed past the rows of benches. "Lincoln…"

Olivia followed quickly, standing beside him, her eyes red-rimmed but determined. She was barely keeping it together herself, but she wasn't about to let Michael go through this alone. They reached the front of the courtroom just as the guards were preparing to take Lincoln away.

Lincoln's eyes softened as he looked at them, the weight of the world on his shoulders. He shook his head, trying to offer some kind of comfort, but the pain was too raw.

"Michael… Liv," he began, his voice rough and tired. "I'm sorry."

"No." Michael shook his head, his voice rising as desperation took over. "No, you don't get to apologize. I need you to tell me you didn't do this. I need you to swear to me, Lincoln. I need to hear it from you."

Olivia stepped closer, her hand resting gently on Michael's arm, trying to steady him, but she was shaking just as much. "Please, Linc," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Please tell us you didn't do this. I can't believe you would. I won't believe it."

Lincoln's gaze dropped for a moment, his jaw tightening. The evidence was damning. The video. The fingerprints. The weapon. Everything pointed to him, and yet…

"I swear to you," Lincoln said, his voice low but firm. He raised his eyes to meet Michael's, then Olivia's. "I didn't do it.I swear on my life, I didn't kill Terrence Steadman."

Michael's chest heaved as he took in his brother's words. He searched Lincoln's face for any hint of deception, any sign that maybe, just maybe, he was lying to protect them. But there was nothing. Only the brutal, painful truth in his brother's eyes.

"I don't understand," Michael whispered, his voice breaking. "The evidence… everything lines up, Linc. How could they do this if you didn't…?"

"It's a setup," Lincoln said, his voice filled with frustration and anger. "I don't know how, or why, but I'm telling you, I didn't do it."

Olivia let out a shaky breath, her tears flowing freely now. She believed him. She had to believe him. Lincoln was family, and he was telling the truth. He had always protected them—he wouldn't lie about something like this.

"We believe you," she whispered, her voice shaking as she looked at Lincoln, her eyes pleading. "We believe you, Linc. But we need you to hang in there. We're going to figure this out."

Michael nodded, his throat too tight to speak. His mind was racing, but the one constant, the one truth he clung to, was that Lincoln wouldn't lie to him. Not about this. He could feel Olivia's hand tighten around his, grounding him as he fought to keep it together.

The guards moved in to take Lincoln away, the chains clinking as they grabbed his arms.

"Michael," Lincoln said, locking eyes with his brother one last time as they began to pull him toward the exit. "Don't give up on me."

Michael's heart shattered at those words, but he managed a nod. "I won't," he promised, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll get you out of this."

Olivia stepped forward, her voice thick with tears. "We'll get you out, Lincoln. I swear it."

Lincoln gave them both one last look before he was led out of the courtroom, the doors slamming shut behind him, leaving Michael and Olivia standing there, broken but determined.

Michael's chest felt hollow, like he couldn't breathe.

Michael stood there, frozen for a moment, staring at the doors that had just closed behind his brother. Olivia stood beside him, wiping at the tears that she could no longer hold back. She turned to him, placing a trembling hand on his arm.

"Michael… we'll get him out. We'll figure this out."

Michael didn't respond right away, his mind racing, trying to process everything. But finally, he looked down at her, his eyes filled with pain, but also a flicker of hope.

"We have to, Liv," he said quietly. "We have to, or he's dead."