Oscar Is Acquitted
The evidence presented by Sarah astonished the court. Standing at the dock, eyes red, Charles felt powerless. He never expected such compelling proof. He had believed his scheme flawless, that he'd manipulated everyone, including the Collins family, stepping over their corpses on his path to glory. He envisioned himself a revered figure of importance.
Unfortunately, his every move had been monitored. He knew he'd be abandoned, or worse, if he crossed the line. Charles clenched his fists, his body trembling, his face contorted with fury. He was born to win, to stand on the highest point, overlooking the world. This fiasco was intolerable; the scornful stares were unbearable.
He glared at Sarah, meeting her cold gaze. He'd always believed he could control women, never imagining one would so thoroughly defeat him. Sarah had trapped him, though in truth, Hannah had orchestrated everything.
He stared at Hannah with bloodshot eyes. He knew she'd rescued Sarah, brought her to court, and secured her testimony. Yet, the woman who'd defeated him didn't even glance at him triumphantly; her eyes remained fixed on Oscar.
He couldn't believe the woman who had once loved him deeply would abandon him so mercilessly. His emotions threatened to overwhelm him.
After detailing Charles' crimes, Sarah felt the sweet sting of vengeance, but it vanished when she saw Charles staring at Hannah. No one could comprehend her suffering during her imprisonment. Charles repeatedly beat her, leaving her bruised and battered, except for her face. Martina, a cruel child, also abused her, and her "kind" mother-in-law, Loretta, proved even more vicious than Sarah had imagined. She wanted to see the Sawyer family – those hypocrites – destroyed. Thankfully, she'd been rescued in time, able to expose them and make them pay.
However, jealousy, not pleasure, consumed her when she saw Charles ignoring her. During his imprisonment, he constantly mentioned Hannah's name. He'd never admitted his love for Hannah, unable to swallow his pride and love a woman who'd rejected him. This love, twisted into hate, fueled his desire to crush her.
Sarah looked dreadful. She would never thank Hannah for saving her life; Hannah had only acted to destroy Charles. This "fair deal" only intensified Sarah's hatred for Hannah, fueled by Charles' affection for her. Sarah couldn't tolerate being indebted to anyone; Hannah represented a significant threat.
In court, the prosecutor confronted Charles: "In light of the plaintiff's evidence, do you confess?"
Charles stared at the prosecutor with burning eyes. This man, who once bowed and scraped before him, now stood tall, accusing him.
Charles laughed, a cold, mad laughter that made the court stare, as if at a monster. He could never have imagined falling so low. Previously, when humbled by Hannah, he could convince himself he could recover; now, self-deception was impossible. He was utterly defeated, having lost everything.
Failure had been unthinkable for Charles, the esteemed firstborn son of the Sawyer family, the most impressive gentleman in Kensbury City. Now, he was a laughingstock, not just in Kensbury, but throughout Northfield. His laughter only escalated, revealing his unraveling.
The prosecutor continued his questioning, met only with Charles' wild laughter. Because Charles refused to confess, the trial was adjourned, though a death sentence seemed inevitable given the irrefutable evidence.
The bailiffs led Charles away. This time, his humiliating state caught Hannah's attention. This man, born into privilege, who'd always looked down on others, convinced of universal admiration and envy, had fallen from grace, his life doomed. Hannah found his impending sentence inconsequential; he was a broken man. He deserved it.
Hannah turned to the judge, standing as the courtroom rose. The judge read the verdict: "Having held hearings, the Premium Court in Kensbury City shall make the following judgment: the court acquitted the defendant, Oscar Wells, of any charges. The defendant shall be released after the sentence."