Rebecca’s POVWhile I was in the car and the convoy drove through my gate outside into my street,We suddenly saw a man ride fast on his bike and double-cross us. However, before this happened at all, I was on my phone. The exposing news about Gabriel just exploded on the internet. And even if the post was just newly posted, under two minutes it already had over two thousand engagements.“Who is that?!” my voice sounded suddenly to the head of security who was perfectly sitting in the front seat in the car I was in.Because of Gabriel's criminal behavior, I have filled the form to the government to allow me to have private securities.And not just any kind of security, but security from the government, who were so trained in their duty to make sure that I was protected.This was why anytime anyone passed through my house, they’d always see the tightened security.“I don’t know ma’am. But we will find out,” the head of security answered me as he stared at me in the mirror.Seeing that
Gabriel’s POVMy hand trembled as I saw that the internet was all about me right now. They talked about how I have hired a criminal to do some operations for me and all of that.My heart raced. “Who was the reporter who posted this news?” I scanned each of the words in the article of the news, but I didn’t see any reporter's name.This was a perfect job to implicate me, and I swear it was working because even the television news seemed to be majoring on my matter right now.Even on the radio news, each channel was screaming my name,“Gabriel Moretti!”“I need to get out of this city,” I muttered briskly to myself as I paced around the house.Instantly, I caught my car keys and dashed out of the house.To everything I own, it was not important. I was back to square one, and even this moment was worse than square one because each person knew who I was.It got worse when another piece of evidence got to the internet.I saw this on the billboard as I was driving very fast away from Manden
Luke’s POVOne thing about me was that I never miscalculated. After the nonsense Rebecca spewed, of which she thought she said something that made sense, I studied her securities and saw that each of them was carried away looking at another angle, careful not to let any unwanted encroachment near the restaurant.And so with this, I knew that if I pulled my trigger at this instance, I could get my aim done and then fight my way out of this restaurant. At least, I was not using my real face; I was wearing a realistic mask, and I could get away pretty easily.“You don’t want to do that. Trust me!” Rebecca said to me with a firm and confident voice.Was she insane?When a gun was pointed even at the bravest person on earth, such a person should blink a type of fear because their life was in the hands of the person pointing the gun at them.But for Rebecca?How was she able to stay confident in the face of death?“I will fucking blow your head off,” I said, pushing the gun closer to her hea
Gabriel’s POVI saw the signboard “Goodbye Mandena” up above. And I just smirked like a victorious soldier who had conquered wars and was returning home.Seeing the above signboard, I knew that I had already escaped being arrested in Mandena.Mandena was a city in the large country of Manderin. But after Mandena was another country because Mandena was at the end of Manderin and we were bordered by the country of Philadelphia.Philadelphia was a country whereby people running from the government in Mandena could escape because of their lawlessness and, at the same time, rigid constitution to external pressure.They believed any government interference from an outside country was already encroaching on their national security, and as for this, they always failed to cooperate unless, of course, the external country wanted war.This was why Manderin and Philadelphia did not always see eye to eye, even as we were neighboring countries to one another.Seeing Philadelphia just a little mile
Gabriel’s POVIt was as if the Judge already had a private meeting with the police or with Rebecca herself. He didn’t even allow my attorney to say much before he canceled everything he said and was to say.“Gabriel Moretti, you are sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor!” he declared, and immediately, the police grabbed me and tossed me into the prison van.The prison was a long journey away from Mandena. I didn’t know where we were, but I knew we passed through the desert somewhat, passed through many deserted roads and many valleys and hills.The prison was so far away that any prisoner who tried to escape, either by luck or by strategy, would not be able to make it alive back into the city. It was from this instance, I knew I was dead.Arriving at the prison, “Move it, everybody!” the jailer who sat in the van with us shouted at the top of his voice.He held a bludgeon stick in his hand. It was made of metal such that when he hit it on any erring prisoner, such a prisoner
Gabriel’s POVThe prisoner fell to the floor, helplessly nursing his wounds. Yet, no one cared.I saw their eyes widen. All they cared about was staring at me—getting a closer look at me.To this effect, the muscular one began to unbutton his jumpsuit while licking his lips and chuckling wickedly.The rest behind him were the same. “Come!” each of them murmured, their voices low like mocking whispers.“Let the president taste you first, then you can go around for the rest of us.”Just then, I saw the muscular one pull out his penis. It was already hard, veins protruding from the top.My heart pounded. It felt like the floor should open up and swallow me whole. My breathing quickened as I took backward steps until my back hit the metal door of the cell.“You can’t run, pussy. Get over here. It’s been a while since we’ve had anyone to fuck,” the muscular one said. Then, suddenly, he grabbed me and shoved me against the wall.“Yes!” The other prisoners in the cell began cheering him on l
Gabriel’s POVWithout much delay, I was moved to a solitary cell. This cell was far from the one they had taken me to earlier. It was isolated in its own corridor and so small that if I stretched my arms while standing at the center, my fingers would touch both walls.The heat inside was unbearable, as if I was boiling my own skin just by being here. But, of course, it was still better than getting raped.I sank my head onto my knees in the corner of the cell. There was a bed, but I couldn't bring myself to sleep on it.I had seen bedbugs crawling on the mattress. And from what I knew about those tiny bloodsuckers, they were like vampires—feeding on me until morning. Sleeping curled up in a corner was the better option.The Next Morning“Hey! Seen the motherfucker who got saved last night?!”A muscular prisoner taunted me, poking at me the moment we stepped into the yard.I didn’t know what this yard was for, but the moment the bell rang, the cell doors automatically unlocked. Then, a
Rebecca’s POVEver since Gabriel had been arrested, I felt better within myself. Mandena was no place for a criminal. Such a criminal who had the mind to hire to kill not one person but persons just so that he wanted them gone?I was pleased to watch the news, to watch as he was being moved to prison in the large bus down the isolated road and forever be gone being punished for his crime.It was at this moment, I knew my revenge was over. Now I needed to move on with my life.I was married to Gabriel, he divorced me and attempted to kill me. I lost my mother, I vouched for revenge. And now that he has been moved away? It was time to give love a second chance.So many others would say I was a damaged woman. A woman who had gone through mindset pollution. A woman who could, because of a revenge against her ex-husband, create business entities to strike him. Such a woman might be avoided by men.But what if I made them understand it was not all what it seemed? And that I was a good person
Judge Hilar’s POVI sighed as I listened to Attorney David’s arguments. He had hit the nail on the head, leaving no room for a contrary opinion. Mr. Micah, without a doubt, should be sentenced to life in prison with every fiber of strength the law permits.However, as a judge, I could not allow emotions to dictate my judgment. The law was not based on sentiment but on logic and fairness. Even when all fingers pointed at Mr. Micah, my duty was to ensure that those fingers were justified before delivering a verdict. A mistake in judgment could cost an innocent person their future, and I could not allow that to happen under my watch.With this thought in mind, I looked up at the courtroom. "Thank you, Attorney David," I said first, acknowledging his argument.Then, I shifted my attention to the documents spread before me. These were files submitted to my desk by Attorney David and Attorney Deborah at the beginning of this argument via the bailiff. Each document contained crucial informat
Micah’s POVAfter Evelyn had been asked a series of questions, she nailed the hammer on the nail, putting me in even more misery—misery I knew I could never escape from. Each word she spoke tightened the noose around my neck, making my fate feel inevitable.“Your Honor, if it pleases the court, I would like to invite Chef Mirabel herself to the stand,” Attorney David announced, his voice firm and unwavering. My heart pounded in my chest, my anxiety reaching its peak.This was the moment of truth—one that would drown me in the most pitiful state of my life.At this instance, I wished I could turn back the hands of time, erase every trace of my meeting with Rebecca. She was the root of all my misfortunes. If only I had never met her, maybe—just maybe—I would still be living my life the way I wanted, preying on victims too weak to stand up for themselves.As my thoughts spiraled, I barely registered Mirabel stepping forward.“Do you swear to tell nothing but the truth?” Attorney David as
Micah’s POVThe moment the video stopped playing, my mind went blank.I couldn’t think. I couldn’t speak.I was already bracing myself for the inevitable—for the judge to pronounce my judgment.The video was gory, violent, and disturbingly dark. It was so graphic that I struggled to believe Annabella had managed to capture everything that happened that night. But there was no mistaking it.My face was there. Clear as day.Her face was there too.There was no way around it. No excuse that could erase what was already being broadcasted to every single person in this courtroom.I felt suffocated."Mr. Micah."Attorney David’s voice sliced through the heavy silence.My pulse quickened.I kept my gaze lowered, refusing to meet his eyes. I didn’t need to look to know what expression he wore. I could hear the smugness in his voice before I even saw it on his face.He stepped closer. “I want to believe that video was AI-EDITED, right?” he teased, leaning against my stand, his words dripping w
Micah’s POV“Shut your fucking mouth up!” my voice boomed from the audio.“You fucker! I am so going to have this sex with you, and there is nothing—nothing—no fucking body will fucking do about it!!!” my voice continued, filled with rage and dominance.“Ahhhhhh!” a lady’s voice rang in the audio, high-pitched and trembling.“Shut your hell mouth! You wanna tell me you’re not fucking enjoying this?!!!” my voice cut through the recording like a blade, silencing the lady.***I opened my eyes widely in horror.A cold shiver ran down my spine, making my fingers tremble slightly as I gripped the edge of the table before me. The courtroom was suffocatingly silent, yet the weight of the countless stares boring into me felt heavier than any noise could have been.I needed no one to tell me I was doomed.When did this lady make the voice recording?I struggled to recollect the exact moment. My mind raced, flipping through my memories like pages in a book, but the answer was already known to m
Micah’s POV“Objection Overruled!” Judge Hilar voiced immediately. And with this,“Mr. Micah, please approach the stand,” Attorney David gestured, his voice carrying the weight of authority.My heart pounded against my chest, an anxious rhythm that echoed through my entire body. I forced my feet forward, each step feeling heavier than the last. What question was Attorney David going to ask me? What angle was he going to take? Was this about defining sadomasochism, or was he going to twist the narrative, making it seem like my sexuality had driven me to attempt rape?Before I could steady my breath, one of the court officials—a woman dressed in a well-tailored brown suit with neatly pressed pants—stepped forward from the corner of the courtroom. She moved with calculated precision, her every motion exuding professionalism. In her hands, she carried two hardcover books that looked like legal documents at first glance. But deep down, I knew what they were.“Which belief do you adhere to,
Micah’s POVI couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw David Cooper enter the courtroom. His footsteps as he walked down the aisle were full of tension.Everyone was shocked. Who wouldn’t know David Cooper? The best lawyer in the whole country?My heart raced as he continued to approach. And when he approached the bench, said his name to the judge, it was as if my heart dropped into the deepest pit.My hands trembled as if I was infected by a shaking disease. I was sweaty all over. Before I met Rebecca, I had watched cases David Cooper argued on TV.He was a popular attorney that they used his life-courting arguing cases to teach young and upcoming attorneys how to do it right. And as such, his cases were always shown on TV for free.The cases he argued were brutal. The defendant, if he were prosecuting, always landed in a life sentence or was sentenced to be killed by fire.I opened my eyes widely as I remembered the final judgment a court pronounced on a case.Would I be judged to be kil
Rebecca’s POVWe arrived at the Supreme Court of the Country of Manderin. We had been duly informed that Micah’s hearing at the court was today, and hence, his fate would be sealed before the day was over.The weight of the moment settled heavily upon my shoulders, but I embraced it with unwavering determination. This was the day justice would be served.In light of this, we had hired a prosecutor who would prosecute Micah for his crime—David Cooper.One of the best attorneys in the whole of Manderin, talk less of Mandena. His reputation preceded him, a man feared by many in the legal profession, admired by even more.I had personally paid to hire him. A whopping sum of 400 grand. Just to put Micah in his place and make him understand that there are consequences for every action and inaction.To attempt a r*pe was a crime against humanity, and definitely, he must learn to put his dick in his trousers from now on.The moment we arrived at the court, I saw him darting a fearful look at
Micah’s POVMorning came as if it were never going to. The night was so long, and I was hell frozen to almost death. Every second that passed felt like an eternity, and the darkness of the cell only made it worse. My body ached from the cold, my muscles stiff, and my mind foggy from the lack of sleep.I never knew that Mandena was a city with so much coldness. Each time, I had always been in the room with the heater turned on, sheltered from the biting night air. But tonight, no heater was turned on. No thick blankets to wrap myself in. Just the unrelenting chill that seeped into my bones, making it feel as though I was locked inside a freezer, struggling to keep warm with nothing but my own body heat.The station was eerily quiet. Most of the police had retired home for the night to be with their families, leaving only a few behind. The ones who stayed behind weren’t the same officers from the daytime. These men were different—fully dressed in black, wearing masks that obscured their
Micah’s POVThe instant the officer returned to my cell, I didn't wait for him to speak. "I want my lawyer!" I immediately voiced before he could say anything else.“So, you think you can afford a lawyer, huh?” he chuckled darkly, his eyes narrowing as he sized me up. Then, with a casual wave of his hand, he turned to the others. “Give him his phone for ten minutes,” he ordered, his voice carrying an authoritative edge.“Let him get himself a lawyer. But monitor him. We don’t want any funny business,” the officer warned.Funny business? Like what? Did they think I was going to miraculously break out of the cell? Escape from the police station when I knew full well that I’d be caught again? That any attempt at running would only worsen my already dire situation?I stayed silent, my thoughts swirling in my head as I remained seated on the cold concrete bench. A few seconds later, another officer approached the cell, his gaze unreadable. Through the metal bars, he stretched out his hand,