No Such Thing As A Hollywood Ending

chapter 43

The courtroom was still as the judge looked toward Amelia, his expression firm. "Miss Stevens," he began, "how do you plead?"

Henry watched Amelia rise, already knowing her answer, but the tension in the room pressed against him like a weight. She straightened her back, took a breath, and said, without hesitation, "Guilty."

A ripple of shock moved through the courtroom, whispers darting among the crowd. Henry wasn't surprised, but the others clearly hadn't expected this. The judge's brow furrowed in disbelief, clearly caught off guard.

The judge leaned forward. "Miss Stevens, do you fully understand the charges you are pleading guilty to?"

Amelia gave a stiff nod. "Yes, Your Honor. I'm being accused of rape and taking advantage of someone with disabilities." She paused, looking down at her hands, then back up at the judge. "I know what I did was wrong. There's no point in denying it, especially when I'm pregnant with the victim's child. I turned myself in because I wanted to take responsibility."

The judge stared at her, clearly processing her blunt honesty. He was used to people trying to evade accountability or manipulate the system. What Amelia was doing—owning her actions in such a public and direct way—was rare.

The judge cleared his throat, still somewhat taken aback. "Given your plea and the nature of the crime, the normal sentence would be 11 years in prison. Does anyone have a reason why Miss Stevens should not receive this sentence?"

Amelia's defense attorney stood, his tone firm but polite. "Your Honor, Miss Stevens is a week shy of turning eighteen. Legally, she is still a minor, and we believe this fact should be taken into account when determining sentencing. She should not be tried as an adult."

The judge pursed his lips, considering this. Henry had expected this argument, had known it was coming, and wasn't surprised in the slightest. But the judge looked like he was mulling over the implications, not having anticipated the request to reduce her sentence so quickly after her guilty plea.

Then, as expected, Henry's representative stood, and while Henry knew what was coming, the rest of the courtroom stilled again in anticipation. The lawyer's voice was steady, calm, but clear enough to cut through the whispers.

"Your Honor," she began, "I would also like to draw your attention to the unborn child involved in this case. While the crime committed is serious, the consequences of incarcerating Miss Stevens for an extended period must be weighed carefully. The child she is carrying will be deprived of knowing both parents during the crucial early years of their life if Miss Stevens is given that sentence. Therefore, we are asking the court to consider a more lenient sentencing, such as house arrest, to allow her to maintain a presence in the child's life under strict supervision, while the child's father—who will take full custody—will ensure the child is cared for."

A shocked murmur spread through the gallery as her words hit home. The judge looked visibly surprised, blinking as he leaned back in his chair. The suggestion of house arrest clearly wasn't what he had been expecting. Most rape cases ended with hard prison time, and the introduction of the child's welfare seemed to catch him off guard.

Henry, however, had been prepared for this. He wanted this, or something close to it, to happen. The thought of his child growing up without knowing their mother, no matter what Amelia had done, had weighed heavily on him. He was no longer reacting to the shockwaves in the room—he was focused, waiting for the judge's response, knowing that this could be the best possible outcome for the child.

The judge tapped his fingers on the bench thoughtfully, then sighed. "This is... highly unusual," he admitted. "But given the circumstances, I will need time to deliberate on this matter."

He looked between Amelia's attorney and Henry's representative, clearly conflicted about the course of action. "The court will take a short recess to consider the arguments presented. We will reconvene shortly."

With the bang of the gavel, the tension in the room seemed to release like a drawn breath, and people began filing out for the recess. Henry stayed in his seat, staring straight ahead, wondering if things would actually work out the way he hoped. Amelia was still sitting quietly, hands folded in her lap, a strange mix of acceptance and uncertainty written on her face.

As he rose to leave the courtroom for the break, Henry's mind raced. The judge's decision could change everything for their child, for both of their futures. But as much as he knew he wanted what was best for the baby, the complexity of it all—the pain, the betrayal, the future—felt overwhelming.