Six months later
The courtroom was packed, the air heavy with tension and anticipation. Maya sat between Damian and Amanda, her fingers laced tightly in her lap, nerves held in check only by the steady weight of Damian's hand on hers. Ron sat beside them, his expression unreadable, and next to him was Oliver—his arm draped protectively around Amanda, the glint of the engagement ring on her finger catching the light every so often.
All of them had been through hell. But today… today was the beginning of closure.
Ace and Amber sat in the defendant's box, clad in orange jumpsuits, wrists shackled. Amber's face had hardened, stripped of the arrogance that once defined her. Ace sat still, jaw locked, gaze forward, as if pretending none of this was real.
The judge entered, and everyone rose. Silence fell like a stone.
After a long recounting of the crimes—kidnapping, torture, conspiracy, attempted murder—the judge looked toward the two with a stern gaze.
