CHAPTER NINETY SEVEN – WE ARE FREE

As the prosecutor laid out the damning evidence against Aiden, a hush fell over the courtroom, the weight of his words seeming to press down upon the assembled spectators like a physical force. Madison reached out, her fingers seeking Kyle's in a wordless gesture of reassurance and solidarity. At last, the prosecutor fell silent, his final words seeming to hang in the air like a death knell as he turned his gaze towards the judge. "In light of the overwhelming proof, we ask that the court impose the maximum sentence allowable under the law." A tense silence descended upon the courtroom as the judge considered the prosecutor's words, his brow furrowed in contemplation. Madison felt her heart hammering against her ribcage, her grip on Kyle's hand tightening convulsively as they awaited the magistrate's verdict. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the judge cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping over the hushed gallery before coming to rest upon Aiden's pale, stricken features