Start of the Quiet Probing

Inside the judge’s office, Olive felt the weight of the moment. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she couldn’t help but feel out of place. The judge, sensing her nerves, gave her a gentle smile, trying to ease the tension. He even offered her a juice box from the fridge, a small attempt to make her feel more comfortable.

But Olive couldn’t shake the anxiety bubbling inside her. With a calm, steady tone, the judge began asking about her life with the Quinns, carefully probing without pushing too hard. Olive answered in clipped sentences, keeping her emotions locked away, unsure of what to reveal just yet.