Chapter 72 The Verdict.

The courtroom was hushed, the tension thick in the air as we sat, waiting for the judge to return. It felt like the world had paused, holding its breath as we all awaited the decision that could change everything. Kai sat beside me, his hand tightly gripping mine under the table. Despite the calm expression on his face, I could feel the tension radiating off him in waves. We had prepared for this day with relentless determination, and now it was all down to this moment. Across the room, Marcus Winslow sat with his team of lawyers, his face impassive, but I could see the slight twitch in his jaw, the only sign that he was just as nervous as we were. It had been a long battle, a back-and-forth of evidence, counterclaims, and legal jargon that had stretched on for what felt like an eternity. But now, finally, it was time for the judge to deliver his verdict. The doors opened, and Judge Harlan entered the courtroom, his black robe flowing behind him. The room fell silent as he took his s