Chapter 8: Chapter 8

483 words

<html><head></head><body>The sky was overcast with a dull gray hue. The courtroom was filled with a heavy, oppressive atmosphere. I sat upright in the plaintiff's seat. The Ashcroft Group's lawyer whispered to me, going over the final details. Documents were neatly arranged on the table. The bailiffs escorted the defendants into the room. They all looked dejected and defeated. Adrian's mother was nowhere to be seen. After learning my identity, she had sold off her assets overnight. She disappeared without a trace, taking the money with her. Zoey's eyes were bloodshot. Her hair was disheveled and dry. She glared at me with venomous hatred. "Evelyn Ashcroft, must you be so ruthless?" Her voice was hoarse. She stood straight, but her shoulders trembled slightly. Adrian kept his head down, unable to meet my gaze. He flinched when the bailiff called his name, responding in a muffled voice. The accomplices looked even more pitiful.  Their faces were pale with fear. They were just ordinary kids from average families. They had never experienced anything like this before. Their fear was almost tangible. "Your Honor, we really didn't know..." "I can't go to jail, my parents would be devastated..." "It was all Zoey's idea!" The courtroom erupted into chaos. The bailiffs sternly restored order. Zoey suddenly became agitated. She pointed at me and screamed. "You stole Adrian from me! You forced me into this!" Her shrill voice echoed through the courtroom.  I looked at her calmly, my expression unreadable. Adrian finally looked up. His eyes were pleading. "Evelyn, please let Zoey go..." "She just made a mistake..." "Think about our past—" I gently interrupted him. "Our past?" A mocking smile played on my lips. "You almost let me die in that room." Adrian's lips trembled, but he couldn't say a word. My lawyer began his statement, his voice clear and composed. "Zoey intentionally took the asthma inhaler."  "The other defendants stood by and did nothing." "Adrian, as her boyfriend, bears significant responsibility." Zoey finally began to tremble with fear. Muffled sobs escaped from behind her hands. Adrian stared at me intently, still hoping for my mercy. The surveillance footage was played in court. Zoey's lawyer tried to argue. "It was just a joke..." "The severity of the illness might have been exaggerated..." Zoey shot me a defiant look. My lawyer remained calm. He presented a thick stack of medical records. Each page was stamped with the hospital's official seal.  Clear diagnostic records. Multiple emergency treatment reports. The judge's expression grew increasingly grave. My lawyer pressed on. He brought up another piece of surveillance footage. In the video, I was at a party, having fun. In a moment of urgency, I tucked a ring into my bag. Zoey sneaked closer. She rummaged through my bag. She had intended to destroy the ring. But she accidentally found the medical records... Her actions were clearly recorded. Zoey's face turned deathly pale.  </body></html>