ELENA POV
That night, I actually slept.
I slept more than a few hours.
The courtroom was packed beyond capacity.
People standing along every wall. Extra guards. The tension was palpable.
"All rise!"
Judge Henderson entered, looking stern.
"Be seated."
Judge Henderson looked at both attorneys, then at the jury.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have heard all the evidence and arguments in this case. It is now your duty to deliberate and reach a verdict."
Then she said the words that made my heart stop.
"You may now retire to deliberate. We will reconvene when you have reached a verdict."
The jury stood and filed out of the courtroom.
And just like that, my fate was in their hands.
They took me back to a holding cell to wait.
Martina stayed with me.
At 1 PM, they brought lunch. I couldn't eat.
"You need to eat," Martina said.
"I can't."
Two and a half hours.
At 2:37 PM, Martina's phone buzzed.
He looked at it. His eyes went wide.
