Isabella~
"What happened, Victor? Why are you so silent today?" I found his behavior very strange. Usually, he wouldn't be so quiet after returning from his house, so I'm not sure why he behaved this way today. His silence pricked at me, his face clouded with something between remorse and fear.
"Nothing, Bella," he finally said, his voice unusually quiet, eyes fixed on his food. "Will you forgive me if I unknowingly committed a mistake?"
"What mistake did you make?" I asked, confused, yet feeling my stomach tighten with worry.
"If Xavier comes to know the truth, then what will you do?" He looked up, and a shadow of fear lingered in his gaze. His words hit like a splash of ice water, freezing me mid-motion.
"What? That's not possible." My voice came out too loud, even to my ears. I stood, almost knocking the chair back.
"You can't tell him the truth!" I stared at him, trying to hide my rising panic, but Victor's expression looked regretful, almost remorseful, and a silent understanding passed between us.
"I didn't mean to do this, Bella, but Xavier saw me in the hospital today, and I'm sure he'll soon learn the truth." Victor's voice, laced with regret, only heightened my fear.
"I didn't anticipate this from you, Victor." Tears stung my eyes as I struggled to rein in my emotions. To keep Xavier out of my life, I built solid barriers around my heart, but now Victor's confession opened them, leaving me vulnerable.
Tomorrow is the second hearing in the Jordan Lucas case. I had prepared my case and convinced myself I could win, that I could focus, but my confidence felt shattered. Victor's revelation gnawed at me all night. My composure slipped, and every thought felt tangled in Xavier's questioning, his heartless gaze from across the courtroom, and the possibility that he knew everything.
The following morning, my stomach twisted as I entered the courtroom and met Xavier's unyielding stare. His silence weighed more than a thousand words, and his eyes seemed to bore through every wall I'd put up. For a second, I thought I could break down and explain to him, but that coldness in his eyes warned me to stay silent.
"Miss Luis, how are you today?" James greeted me with a smile that felt both forced and strangely mocking as if he were already savoring some advantage he hadn't yet shared.
"All good, Mr. Williams." I forced myself to appear confident, trying to shake off the nerves. I organized my documents, though my mind drifted. If Xavier knew the truth, what would he do? And could I survive it?
When the judge entered, I stood along with everyone, preparing myself to argue the case. Stay strong, I told myself. I couldn't afford to let Xavier's suspicions or Victor's mistake shake me. Today, my mission was to bring justice and nothing else.
"My Lord, I kindly ask you to render a decision in this case during today's hearing," I started, lifting my voice confidently.
"My colleague could not provide any convincing evidence to support his client, Mr. Lucas, the last time."
But even as I spoke, I felt a persistent sensation in my chest, like a warning bell. Jordan Lucas's cold, calculating gaze told me he was waiting for something, something dark. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more at play than I knew.
"My Lord, if my colleague were appointed as judge in this case, I'm positive that she would mail a death sentence to my client, Mr. Lucas, instead of appearing in court. Am I right, Miss Luis?" James's voice cut in, smooth and taunting, as he gave me a smug look.
"My Lord, I'm not saying this. I'm simply articulating why it remains futile to squander court time when Mr. William lacks evidence to bolster his client's innocence." I struggled to maintain control, aware of the judge's sharp gaze on me, assessing. Despite my resolve, I couldn't stop glancing at Xavier, feeling his presence like an anchor weighing me down. Focus, Bella, I reminded myself.
"Here is the proof, my Lord, that my client's medical emergency compelled him to apply this Chinese law in the United States," James continued, handing a document to the judge with a small, victorious smile.
The judge scanned it, brow furrowing thoughtfully.
"What prevented Mr. Lucas, from informing the court about his emergency medical circumstances, Mr. William?" The judge's question seemed straightforward, but I saw in his face a flicker of doubt that hadn't been there before.
Was James managing to convince him?
"My Lord, it is obvious that Mr. William is misleading the court by presenting these fabricated documents," I cut in, heart pounding.
"If his client were truly ill, he should have informed us sooner. Furthermore, there are no laws in the U.S. allow him to apply for foreign nationality during medical emergencies."
But something about my arguments felt flat as if I were losing traction despite my words. The questions Xavier's presence stirred left me distracted and vulnerable to James's manipulations.
"My Lord, a similar situation involving a Chinese national occurred in the past," James interrupted, seizing on my hesitation. "At that time, the court permitted the defendant to apply Chinese law." His voice rang with a confidence that rattled me.
I hadn't seen that case coming, and it was a blow to my argument.
My pulse quickened, and my heart sank as I realized he had blindsided me.
"But my lord, he was a typical Chinese person who became stranded here without a passport or visa. He had no criminal history, unlike Mr. Lucas." I fought to hold my ground, but I could see the judge weighing James's arguments carefully. The wall I'd built felt like it was slipping away, leaving me vulnerable.
"Until you have proof, Miss Luis, you can not accuse him." The judge's voice was harsh, and I felt the floor drop out beneath me.
I felt my strength evaporate as he turned to James and granted Jordan Lucas a verdict of not guilty. Horror sinking in as I saw Jordan's eyes flash with triumphant malice and James's thinly veiled smirk as he congratulated Jordan.
Every fiber of me screamed at the injustice, but I was too shaken to fight back. Hastily, I gathered my papers and exited the courtroom, numb and defeated. The hall was empty and quiet, and for a moment, I thought I might slip away unseen.
But Xavier was there, following me like a shadow. The quiet of the hall felt suffocating, and I could feel him watching, his presence forcing every emotion I'd buried to rise to the surface. I quickened my pace, trying to avoid him, but he moved to stand in front of me, his gaze piercing.
"Why did you hide this truth from me?" His voice was calm, too calm, as he raised a piece of paper—the DNA report. The world felt like it had stopped spinning as I realized he'd done what I'd tried to prevent all along.
A wave of dread washed over me, and I felt the weight of all the secrets I'd tried to keep tumbling down around me.