Chapter 0433
DENNIS
Ana got admitted to a mental health crisis center, and | spent most of my days there. Even though | try to
equally share my tbetween work, Justin and Amie, | found myself spending the most there.
Work was going absolutely fine. | now made way more than | used to before | got duped, but | wasn't happy. The
love of my life was in a psychiatric home. Everyday | go there, | hope that her condition will soon begin to
improve. Half the time, she seemed fine, just sitting there all by herself with a neutral expression. She wouldn't
speak with anyone for hours, the other half was spent crying and beggingto take us to Amie. The doctor said
she was getting better, but it didn't look like it to me.
Justin was doing very well. He didn't seem to be grieving like Aiden had suggested. There were times when he'd
cry and nothing would make him stop until he fell asleep, but those times were rare and | just think it was his
mom that he missed.
| ensured that | always made tfor him, just as | made tfor Ana, no matter how hectic work was. | didn't
want to entirely leave him to his nanny. Though she was a nice woman, | wanted Aiden to grow to know another
face apart from his nanny's. "Amie's captors and killers have been caught," | told Ana the last t| visited.
She beamed and clapped. "Yay. We should take them with us to Amie so that she can punish them." Then she
added, "Amie is now very powerful." She proceeded her words with a raised arm, showingher biceps. "Her
powers are here. | saw it. She showed me." | just smiled and nodded. And she did the same, flashingher
beautiful smile.
The henchmen that the captors hired, the ones that they claimed were the ones that shot Amie, were later
arrested too.
My surprise knew no bounds when | saw who the captors were. Tabitha and the men that gavelectures and
the stupid immersion bath for me.
At that moment, | berated myself for letting them go like that. When | found out that they were fraudsters, |
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtshould have reported them. If | had, Amie might still be here, and Ana would be fine.
I had blamed Aiden for acting on his own, for his wife's involvement but we're all at fault in sway. This whole
thing began because of Tabitha's obsession withand thirst for revenge. Intertwined in it all was Aiden's wife,
Sharon, who feared that Ana might take Aiden from her. And then there was Ana... Maybe, just maybe if she had
listened to us and allowed one of us to go, this wouldn't have happened. But then if Aiden and | had been on the
spage, she wouldn't have felt inclined to take charge. It was all and none of our faults. So | told the police
everything | knew about their profession and what they madego through. Turned out that they didn't even
tell the police about that.
ork
As the day of their trial day drew closer, | cleared my schedule for the day so | could attend.
Because no matter what, | have too see them get the punishment they deserve.
On the day, | left early to see Ana.
These days, | actually now believe the doctor. Ana was getting better. She doesn't scratch her skin like she used
to anymore, doesn't stare into space for hours long and the best part, she has stopped talking about going to
join Amie. "Hey," | said as | pulled her into a hug.
She huggedback, a shy smile on her lips. "How's Justin?"
"He's fine, he misses you."
She sighed. If only they'd letleave," she scratched her brows as she said, pouting.
"They will, soon," | told her as | walked us to a seat.
| put my arms around her and we sat in silence for a while. All the while, she picked at her nails.
"Amie will get justice today," | finally told her, watching her to see her reaction.
The doctor had warned that | should be careful whenever | wanted to talk about Amie with her.
She stilled and remained silent, then she looked up at me. "But that wouldn't bring her back."
| pressed a kiss to her forehead and hugged her head to my chest. "Nothing would. But atleast, her killers won't
roam free anymore."
Silence, then she muttered. "Yes."
After a short chat, | stood up to leave.
She hugged me. "Take good care of Justin."
"Of course."
sok
| sat in the cold, hard pew of the courtroom, whispers cfrom all sides, stolen glances casted in my and
Aiden's direction. He was seated several pews away from me.
The judge entered, and the bailiff's voice boomed, silencing the murmurs. "All rise."
We all stood up.
The defendants were brought in, hands cuffed, the expressions on their faces were a mix of fear and defiance.
As Tabitha was dragged in, our eyes met and | was satisfied with the sheer fear | saw in them. The defiance and
pride long stripped from her.
The judge began, "Court is now in session. The defendants are charged with kidnapping in the first degree,
leading to the death of the victim, Amie Dennis. How do you plead?" "Not guilty," they each muttered.
My jaw clenched, my hands curling into fists.
The prosecutor stood, her voice
steady and strong. "Your Honor, the evidence against the defendants is overwhelming. Surveillance footage,
witness testimonies, and forensic analysis all confirm their
involvement. We seek the maximum
sentence for this heinous crime."
The defense attorney rose next, "Your Honor, my clients maintain their innocence. The prosecution's evidence is
circumstantial at best, and there is no direct proof tying my clients to the victim's death."
I wanted to scream. Circumstantial?
She's dead because of them! But | stayed silent. From where | sat, | could see Aiden throwing a death glare at
the defense attorney and right then, | could tell the thoughts running through his head.
The trial dragged on, each piece of evidence disseminated for all to see.
And then, finally, it was tfor the verdict.
"Will the defendants please rise?" the judge commanded.
They stood, their shackles clinking.
The judge's voice was steady and unyielding. "After careful
deliberation, the jury has found the defendants guilty on all charges. For the crof kidnapping resulting in the
death of Amie Dennis, | hereby sentence each of you to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole."
| sucked in a sharp breath. Life. They would never walk free again.
Their eyes bulged as they gaped at the judge. What were they expecting? A few years so they could return to
cause more havoc in people's lives?
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