Chapter 62 I Was Framed
The next morning, the sky was half-covered with clouds.
A sleek black sedan rolled up outside the courthouse. Antonio stepped out, still rocking that high-end custom black suit, looking like he could freeze you with a glance. Dude had an aura that screamed, "Stay the hell away."
Sarah followed him, rocking a simple but classy white blouse and black trousers. She looked all dignified and stuff, but man, those dark circles under her eyes told a different story.
As soon as they showed up, the reporters who'd been camping outside swarmed them like bees to honey.
These vultures weren't here for the court case; they were here for Sarah, the chick who'd come back from the dead.
"Sarah, you vanished for five years. Why pop up now?"
"You come back just when Mr. Valencia's about to tie the knot again. What's your game?"
"Word is, your car crash five years ago was 'cause you were messing around with another dude. True or false?"
"The defendant's your bro Brady, and the victim's Mr. Valencia's fiancée's sis, Lusa. Coincidence much? Smells like a setup between you and Brady!"
Some of these reporters had already been paid off by Lisa to grill Sarah. The barrage of questions made her look even worse.
A setup? Damn right it was, courtesy of Lisa and Lusa!
If they hadn't framed Brady, she wouldn't be back in this hellhole she wanted to forget.
She bit her lip, ready to clap back, when a big hand suddenly landed on her shoulder. Sarah flinched and turned to see Antonio's tense face.
Antonio's expression had shifted, his eyes now icy cold. His sharp gaze swept over the reporters, making them too scared to keep spouting their crap.
Antonio's words were colder than his stare. "I have no fiancée. Legally, I've only ever had one wife. Spread any more rumors, and I'll come after you."
Translation: Keep talking trash, and you're dead meat.
Everyone knew the Valencia family's power and status. Messing with Antonio was basically signing your own death warrant.
Just then, another car pulled up, and out stepped Lisa and Lusa.
Lisa helped Lusa out. They'd ditched their usual flashy getups, especially Lusa, who'd put on makeup to look all haggard and victim-like.
Seeing this, the reporters swarmed them, shoving recording devices in their faces and shouting, "Got anything to say to the defendant and his fam?"
Lusa's eyes filled with tears, looking too heartbroken to speak. Lisa, standing beside her, put on a show of concern, gently patting Lusa's shoulder.
"Sorry, Lusa's not in a good state. I'll speak for her," Lisa said, throwing a glance at Sarah. "We trust the law to give Lusa the justice she deserves! Those who act like beasts must pay the price!"
The reporters ate up Lisa's words, nodding along and showering Lusa with sympathy. Their attitude did a complete 180 from when they were grilling Sarah.
Lisa's words were like daggers, stabbing at Sarah's nerves. Her eyes blazed with anger, and she wanted nothing more than to rip off the sisters' masks and show everyone their true, ugly faces.
But Sarah knew better than to lose it in front of the cameras. The vultures would just twist it into something worse.
Antonio noticed Sarah's barely-contained rage, tightened his grip on her shoulder, and murmured, "Let's get inside."
Meanwhile, the reporters shifted their focus to the tangled web between Lisa, Antonio, and Sarah.
Lisa threw a longing glance at Antonio's back, hesitated, then cautiously said, "I never meant to come between anyone's marriage, but as far as I knew, Sarah was dead..."
Her eyes filled with tears, like she was recalling something tragic. "Now that she's back, I know there's no place for me anymore, but my son Ryan..."
She trailed off, looking all sorrowful, but her message was clear. The reporters, seeing Lisa's fragile act, couldn't help but feel sorry for her and lament her situation.
Lisa hung her head, her shoulders shaking, but her eyes were ice-cold.
'Sarah, even if you win Antonio over, so what? Brady's going to jail!' she cursed inwardly.
Sending Brady to jail was just the start. Next, she'd make Sarah's life a living hell.
Soon, it was time for the trial. Lisa helped Lusa to their seats, and Sarah turned to look, her eyes cold as ice.
Lisa also turned to look at Sarah, her eyes full of mockery, a slight, triumphant smile on her lips, as if to say, "Sarah, without a witness, let's see how you fight me."
At that moment, the judge, dressed in a black robe, took her seat. It was a female judge, and Sarah's heart sank.
Judges were supposed to be impartial, but a female judge might be more sympathetic to a female victim.
The courtroom was dead serious. The judge, the jurors, and the officers on both sides all had stern expressions. Besides them, there were also a number of jurors. Before the trial began, the rules were read out.
For some reason, Sarah felt a chill run through her. Her hands were icy, and she instinctively clasped them together.
Everyone sat quietly, listening to the victim's lawyer and the victim's statements. All the evidence pointed to Brady committing rape, and as the female judge's face grew tense, there was a hint of sympathy in her eyes when she looked at Lusa.
"Next, the defendant will speak!"
Brady stood up, looking worn out but dead serious. He looked at the judge and said earnestly, "I was framed!"
His words caused an uproar, and the jurors started whispering to each other.
"Order!" The judge's command silenced the commotion, and Brady continued, "That night, I was drugged."
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