Just Sofia.

13. Chancery

"Is there by any chance, you know the reason why my client happened to attack you?" James' attorney asks me.

"I had kissed his best friend."

"So you were having an affair with my client's best friend?"

"No, that is not what had happened. It was just a slip up considering the situation we were in. I loved James, I would never hurt him." I say calmly.

"But you were having an affair, is that correct?"

"Yes, but legally we were not married. So legally, I wasn't having an affair." I say.

"No further questions." His attorney says after giving me a blank stare.

I feel my heart skip a beat as I force that statement out of my mouth. My heart begins to race when James makes eye contact with me. I can't pull away from it, it's luring and it feels so bewitching. I pull away from it once my attorney continues to question me.

"So you may say this enfuriated him, so he diverts his anger to you. Do you agree?"

"Correct."

"Did you sustain any injuries from this man?"

"Yes, he was able to cut through my arm, here." I say as I show them my bandaged arm.

"So this man attacked you in Mr. Ferri's home and last time I checked Mr. Lémo does not live there. And I am quite aware that Mr. Ferri has security but they claim to not have seen Mr. Lémo get in. The security cameras support their statement. Is that right?"

"Correct."

"That is all." He says before taking a seat.

"Alright. Does the defendant have any argument?" Judge Jill asks.

"No, ma'am." His attorney lowly says.

"Miss. Miles, you may stand down. Decisions will be announced tomorrow, you are dismissed."

I rush to Adrian to make sure he's okay. James was in custody until decisions were made. It gave me pleasure to know he wasn't going to escape. I watched him in his orange wear, cuffed both arms and legs. Guards leading him to his cell. We made eye contact, a smirk appeared on his face. It sent chills down my spine.

"Are you alright?" Adrian pops up.

"Yea, I'm fine. Just a little shaky." I sigh.

"Hey, you did great up there answering those questions."

"I just hope it was enough to help my lawyer bring justice." I chuckle.

"It'll be okay. Speaking of your lawyer, here he comes." He swifts away to talk to my mother while my lawyer comes up to talk to me.

"Here you go. You look like you need some." He says handing me some coffee.

"Thank you." I chuckle.

"You did great out there answering the questions. I know not many women would be able to bring themselves up to do such a thing. You're my hero for that." He smiles slightly pushing me.

"Yea, I felt very emotional and scared if he would just get up and hurt me. But I had to do this, I couldn't let him hurt the people I love and more people out there." I smile.

"Yep, that's the spirit. Hopefully tomorrow will be all good news."

"I hope so, too."

....

"All rise."

We get up as the judge Jill walks in. Her face with no expression. I'm very scared, what if he's found innocent and he's set free. I'll be dead for sure. He'll come for me, Adrian. Everyone.

"We are gathered here for the case of attempted murder. The jury has decided on what best answer suits this case. The moment you have all been waiting for." Judge Jill says.

She hands an envelope to a lady in a black skirt and jacket. She begins to shout out words I thought I would never hear.

"James Lémo is charged with trespassing on private property, attempted murder and the first degree murder of Kimberly Lancaster. Sentencing will be announced."

"Any last words, Mr. Ferri?" Judge Jill asks him.

He gets up to the stand.

"Yes, I am sorry for everything I did. I'm sorry for hurting you, I didn't mean to. That wasn't the plan. I am sorry for the man I am. I am not the man you wanted, but I will be back. I will come back for you, then we'll run away. Together."

He was crying.

"Thank you. Take him to his cell."

This was it. He was being so sincere. I really felt some sort of remorse for him when he started crying during his speech. I began to be teary.

I forgive him.

People begin to clap and cheer. His mother begins to cry but his sister clearly doesn't care. Adrian smiles at me and I rejoice. But with one question on my mind.

Who is Kimberly Lancaster?

My thoughts begin to race when I realize who she is, James' ex girlfriend. He never liked talking about her, he rarely even talked about her. When I asked why he wasn't with her anymore, his answer was always she was a cheating bitch and he doesn't feel any remorse for what he did and she belongs where she is right now. That's all I could always get out of him. I eventually gave up.

"We did it!" I hug Adrian and my attorney as we cheer our success.

I turn to see James being dragged out of the room by the police he turns to me and begins to go wild.

"I loved you Sofia, I really did! I forgive you! I promise when I get out of here we'll run away together just like you wanted. Just you and me."

I become teary when he says that.

Just like you wanted.

It's true, I did want to run away with him. But it never really happened.

I feel Adrian hold my hand as I turn to hug him.

"Get your hands off my fucking fiancé! When I get back, I'm going to kill you! I forgive you, Sofia. Forgive me, Sofia. I love you!" He says crying on his knees.

Just like that he's whisked out the room and taken to his new home. The jail cell.

That was it. I'm free.