Lost
The judge asks Aziel to tell something about himself, she wants an image of the man's current life. The new approach causes a slight buzz through the room, but when the young woman focuses her stern gaze on the room, everyone is silent. Her authority is unquestionable.
“Your honor, I am an engaged man, my wife is pregnant with twins and we have another five-year-old son. This case is so distasteful, puts pressure on my wife's well-being," Aziel begins. “I had sex with this young woman against my will, I was drugged and raped and now she says she is pregnant by me. This is not what I wanted, my plan was to have a closed family with my wife and children. And now I am forced to rearrange my plans. But I accept my responsibility if the child is mine, it is innocent in all this," he ends emotionally.
The judge looks at him unfazed.
"I understand that you did your own investigation before you trusted the police enough to do their job," she tells him. Aziel nods. “Yes, in sophisticated communities where free sex is almost normal, nobody, including the police, wouldn't have taken me seriously. Now that a licensed private detective agency has done the investigation, it saves me from all sorts of unsavory comments and accusations from third parties. With the evidence presented to you, everyone will look at the case differently.
The judge looks at the file on her table, in addition to paperwork, there is also a disc with evidence provided by Aziel’s attorney. The widescreen in the room turns on and the disc is played. Everyone watches it quietly. “But I see you willingly go with the woman, Mr. Renegade”, the judge points out.
And that's where the debates begin. Monsanto claims he has witnesses that Aziel did not drink any alcohol that night because he wanted to set a good example for his eldest son. They are his friends he met at the club. And then he shows another disc where Clairy can be seen with Elena Fellogan, the conversation can be heard loudly. The women are clearly talking about Loraine Windrug, Aziel's fiancée, and the plan for Clairy to get pregnant and get Aziel for herself. And then the footage where Clairy makes payments to Dale Young, her accomplice in the kidnapping, and again the conversation between the two explains a lot about the case.
Kenjal Griffith is furious, confident he demands that the evidence presented by Monsanto be declared illegal because he did not receive any of it in his files, something to which he is legally entitled. Then Monsanto reminds him that the evidence was collected by Mr. Renegade himself and not by the judiciary. It is his free will to whom he gives it.”
And then the witnesses are heard, all three men declare the same. Aziel refused alcohol because his son is very affectionate and he feared that the boy would catch the smell. He did not want to confront the boy with drugs and alcohol at such a young age.
The hearing of the case continues, it seems as if the jury and the judge are not really convinced of Aziel's innocence. Kenjal Griffith is already rubbing his hands, winning in this case means he can operate his law firm at a higher level.
Just when he thinks everything has been settled in his client's favor, he hears his opposing attorney ask the judge to study some additional documents in court. He also hands over a copy to Kenjal Griffith through the bailiff as well. When the judge studies the screenshots, her eyes widen. “I want that Dale Young here! Officer, do your job and have all of the accused's companions here, Young and Fellogan!"
Before the prosecutor can respond, a clerk bursts into the courtroom. Out of breath, she first turns to the judge. “Your Honor, forgive me but I have an urgent message to deliver. The fiancée of Mr. Renegade is currently being transported to the hospital. Heavy bleeding has occurred and she is asking for him.”
Both Aziel and Andre jump up, his lawyer grabs his arm firmly to calm him down and wait for the judge's permission first. “Madam Judge, please cooperate….”, he asks meaningfully.
“Loraine! My wife, my wife!” Aziel whispers wildly, in despair. “Oohhh God, spare her!”. The judge can hardly contain her tears. "Yes, of course, go quickly." She has barely finished speaking and Aziel flies out of the room, followed by Andre. The judge adjourned the hearing to another time.
At Aziel's direction, Andre drives at high speed to the hospital where Loraine has been under treatment for quite some time. He wonders what went wrong, the last time the babies were safe and sound. “Andre, whatever happens, Loraine is the most important thing here. God willing, we saved the babies, but Loraine's life has the highest priority," he says deeply emotional. “God, how do I go on living if something happens to her? This is so unreal.” He runs a hand over his face a few times as if to wake up from a bad dream.
When they arrive, the head nurse is waiting for them and escorts them to the waiting area near the operating room. “Mr. Renegade, we are doing everything we can to save your wife and children. Fortunately, she was quickly discovered and transported here”, she tries to comfort him. “We have the best doctors here so the chances for success are high.”
To help calm his nerves, Andre gets him a cup of hot coffee from the machine in the hall. He wants to tell Aziel that everything will be fine, but he also doesn't want to lie to him. Leaning against the door frame, he says a quick prayer. After the rape case, this is the worst that could happen to Aziel, the man in front of him is really devastated.
It takes about an hour before the gynecologist finally comes out of the operating room. Aziel sprints towards him. “Doctor, my wife, my children!” he stammers.
The doctor shakes his head despondently. “Sorry, Mr. Renegade. We couldn't save the babies. Her blood pressure was really too high, too much stress.”
Aziel falls against the wall, his face twisted in pain. “Aziel, be strong. Don't let Loraine see you like that." Andre takes his friend in a bone-breaking hug, his heart heavy. “You will get through it, together you are a strong couple”.
Loraine is wheeled out of the room, but she is still asleep from the anesthesia. Aziel grips the bed, staring straight at her pale face. "My wife. Loraine, please”, he whispers, swallowing heavily. He walks with the nurses to the room and stays by her side.
Andre gives the couple privacy to get through their loss. He picks up his phone and informs their friends of the terrible news…
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