Isabella~
"Are you certain you want to be a part of this case, Bella?" Victor questioned me once again as he stopped the car in front of the court.
"Hmm," I nodded, collecting my documents from the back seat. I focused on steadying my breathing. Despite Victor's insistence, I felt a heavy mix of dread and determination. I couldn't waver now.
"You don't have to hurt yourself; you still have the option to withdraw from this case." He grasped my hand and studied my face with a worried expression.
"No, Victor. I've already made up my mind, and I won't back down in this situation." My voice remained firm, though inside I wavered. "I'm determined not to betray dad's trust at any cost." I opened the car door to get out.
"Don't worry about Dad; I will talk to him. He won't want you to fight this case at the cost of hurting yourself." His eyes were searching my face for signs of the deep-seated agony within me. I quickly averted my gaze, not wanting him to see the struggle I tried so hard to conceal.
After spending a few months with Xavier, I was unable to control my emotions and fell in love with him again. The truth was, I had never moved on from him, not really. My heart had shattered again after learning of his latest betrayal, and every memory of the closeness we'd shared felt like a fresh wound. I had come close to giving him another chance, envisioning a future as a family, but he'd shattered those dreams with his deception. And yet, memories of our recent kiss haunted me. It had rekindled my love, confusing my every step forward.
"Bella, no matter what, I am always with you." His thumb brushed away a tear I hadn't realized had fallen.
"Thank you," I whispered, resting my head on his shoulder to steady myself. I was grateful for his support, but every moment spent fighting, Xavier threatened to erode my resolve. I hugged Victor tightly as I noticed Xavier's reflection in the side mirror. Seeing him smoldering with jealousy and hurt felt oddly satisfying. He no longer deserved me.
To solidify that I was no longer his, I kissed Victor's cheek. Victor seemed surprised but responded by kissing my forehead. As Xavier's eyes burned with betrayal, my heart settled with some satisfaction.
Disembarking from the car, I was immediately swarmed by reporters. Victor shielded me, helping to clear a path through the questions.
Inside the courtroom, I noticed a strikingly handsome man in the defender's chair. His resemblance to Xavier was uncanny, and for a moment, my pulse quickened, though I steeled myself against the attraction.
"Miss Luis, it's a pleasure," he greeted, holding out his hand.
"You?" I looked at him in surprise, wondering if his charm was merely a facade.
"Come on, Miss Luis. I didn't think you were so isolated as to not know who the defender would be." His lips curved into a confident smile as he kissed the back of my hand. The gesture made me bristle, yet I felt his eyes studying me, looking for a reaction.
"We're only lawyers in court, Mr. William. Outside of it, we're allowed our personal choices." The words were delivered politely, but I wanted to make my boundaries clear.
"Of course, Miss Luis." He replied, his gaze searching mine with a glint of challenge.
"We lawyers often seek justice, not revenge—although sometimes, they appear closely related." I taunted him for his evil intentions behind defending this case.
"You're like a green chili, Miss Luis—brilliantly intense, a little bit of danger." The flattery was thinly veiled, and his eyes betrayed his cunning. Still, my calm response must have struck a nerve because his smile faltered.
"Thank you, Mr. William, for the compliment." I maintained a confident smile.
"How dare you touch her?" Until Xavier interrupted, I hadn't realized James was still holding my hand. Xavier's hand flew to break the contact, his jaw set with restrained anger.
"Oh, I apologize, Miss Luis." James gave a sheepish grin, his expression trying to mask the tension building between them. "It seems I was too captivated to notice I hadn't let go."
"It's all right, Mr. William. Just be careful in the future," I replied. I kept my gaze on Xavier, whose darkened eyes revealed his frustration. He wanted to say something, but as the session was about to start, I turned to my seat, ignoring his every attempt to catch my attention.
As the judge entered, we all rose. The tension crackled around me, and I took a deep breath, ready to deliver my statement.
"My Lord," I began, facing the judge. "
"Jordan Lucas tricked the entire legal system by arranging for someone else to serve his prison term in his place. I respectfully request that the court sentence Jordan Lucas to death, setting an example for those who might dare to consider such deception in the future."
As I spoke, I glanced at Jordan in the defendant's box, his expression serene despite the charges against him. His demeanor was unsettling—beneath that composed surface lay a ruthless criminal. And just as I sat, James cast another unsettling smile my way, readying himself to defend.
The exchange left me on edge. I leaned back, trying to calm my nerves while I noted Xavier's distressed expression. His eyes flicked to me, silently pleading for a chance to talk, to explain, but I couldn't let him derail my focus. I would deal with his regrets later, after the session. I felt Victor's reassuring presence behind me, reminding me to stay firm.
"My Lord, my client did not break any laws." James's voice was calm and controlled, with a disturbing confidence. "His actions introduce a new concept—he devised an innovative method of serving a sentence by employing another person to bear it for him." The room seemed to tighten as James presented documents to the judge.
I watched, feeling a pang of apprehension I couldn't ignore. What was he showing?
As the judge carefully reviewed James's documents, his focused expression hinted that he was deeply considering the defense's angle. I couldn't read the judge's mind, but I knew one thing: James wouldn't play fair.