Dear Husband (VegasPete)

Chapter 1

"Sentenced the defendant to life imprisonment in Nusa Kambangan Prison."

Knock Knock

Vegas didn't forget to breathe, he just hoped he wouldn't have to breathe again. The crowd around him erupted, flashes of light from the cameras piercing through him as his soulless body was dragged somewhere brighter.

He really hoped he never had to breathe again.

.

.

.

"Just as we predicted." A voice said with a heavy sigh, "The judge excluded the evidence because we couldn't provide any better witnesses."

Silence fell over the room.

"The witness you said you saw, Vegas..." another deep-voiced voice tried to speak to him , "I don't think we can find him anymore. He should have run away somewhere judging by the amount of money someone sent him."

"We still have to find him." Another voice interrupted. For the first time since he entered the room, Vegas wanted to raise his head to look at the speaker. But in the end, his head was still lowered, "He must still be somewhere. If we can find him, his sentence will be lessened or even better-exonerated."

"We were actually fortunate that the judge rejected the prosecutor's request for the death penalty." The deep-voiced man answered, "With all the evidence they gathered and everything... We're lucky he got a life sentence."

"They were all fake evidences!!" the sound of someone hitting the table was heard.

"Pete..." Another person tried to calm the situation, "I think what Pol is trying to say is that you and Vegas should have thought a lot before appealing. With critical witnesses missing and nothing we can do about their falsified evidences, the chances of a successful appeal are very low."

"So we just give up? We're going to let people punish him for something he never did?" Pete's tone rose, "I thought it was your job to defend him!"

"This is our advice as your friends, Pete, not as lawyers." Pol responded, "As lawyers, we will stand until the end, but as your friend-who knows no one is on your side or Vegas's side-accepting punishment is the best decision. If Vegas shows a positive attitude during the sentencing period and the public begins to forget about the case, we can appeal with a higher chance of success."

Pete didn't answer right away but Vegas could imagine him smiling bitterly, "But he will still be treated as a cold-blooded murderer."

Vegas grimaced. The image of his father's dismembered corpse flashed through his mind. An ominous feeling washed over him.

Taking a deep breath, Vegas finally raised his head. Three men sat in front of him, arguing. Two men in formal suits spoke more calmly while the other one looked more emotional than them. Vegas' eyes softened when he saw the emotional man. Taking another deep breath, he finally said something in the conversation.

"Leave me alone with Pete."

The three men immediately stopped arguing. Without asking further, the two lawyers got up from their seats while tidying up their documents.

"We will wait outside." One of them said and walked out of the room while closing the iron bar door, leaving him alone with the last man who was clearly still upset.