Three days later, the Dallas County Courthouse was swarming with news reporters, camera crews, and local high-society figures[cite: 1]. Flashbulbs lit up the wide marble steps as a prison van pulled up to the side entrance. Chloe Sterling was led out of the vehicle wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, her blonde hair messy and her wrists locked in heavy metal cuffs[cite: 1].
Reporter 1: Mrs. Sterling! Did you steal forty million dollars from your own sister?!
Reporter 2: Is it true you locked a registered nurse in a basement for three days?!
Chloe: Get those cameras out of my face! I am innocent! My husband set me up!
Inside Courtroom 4B, Judge Henderson slammed his wooden gavel three times against the desk as the crowd settled into the wooden pews[cite: 1].
Judge Henderson: Court is now in session for the bail hearing of the State of Texas versus Chloe Montgomery Sterling.
Chloe stood at the defense table alongside a public defender provided by the state, her eyes searching the gallery until she saw Harrison sitting next to Clara in the front row[cite: 1]. Clara was wearing a simple slate blue dress, her face bandaged but her posture calm and dignified[cite: 1].
Chloe: *Muttering* Look at her sitting there playing the victim... she took everything from me...
Public Defender: Quiet, Mrs. Sterling! You are on live courtroom audio!
Prosecutor Davis: Your Honor, the state presents digital evidence of systematic wire fraud, identity theft, elder financial abuse, and felony assault with intent to cause severe bodily harm. Furthermore, the defendant attempted to flee the country with foreign currency and fraudulent passports.
Judge Henderson: Given the severity of these charges and the clear attempt to evade jurisdiction, this court denies bail in its entirety. The defendant will remain in custody at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center until trial.
Chloe: Denied bail?! Your Honor, please! Look at my hands! I can't stay in a county jail cell with common criminals! I have severe asthma!
Judge Henderson: The county jail has a fully equipped medical wing, Mrs. Sterling. Next case.
The bailiffs grabbed Chloe by her shoulders, turning her toward the holding cell door[cite: 1]. She turned her head wildly toward Harrison and Clara, screaming at the top of her lungs[cite: 1].
Chloe: Harrison! You were supposed to protect me! You were my husband!
Harrison: My divorce filing was served to your public defender ten minutes ago, Chloe. I am officially removing my name from everything you ever touched.
Chloe: Clara! Tell them to let me go! I am your sister! You can't let them lock me in a cage!
Clara stood up slowly from her seat, looking at Chloe with a gentle, sad expression in her eyes[cite: 1].
Clara: You locked yourself in a cage the day you decided money was more important than family, Chloe. I will pray for your soul, but I will never let you hurt me again.
Chloe shrieked in absolute fury as the guards pushed her through the heavy steel door, which slammed shut with a deep, echoing bang that vibrated through the courtroom pews[cite: 1].