➺ 𝙎𝘼𝙑𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙄𝙎𝘼𝘽𝙀𝙇𝙇𝙀 - O.Benson

Chapter 15: The Verdict

**POV: Isabelle's**
The day of the verdict arrived sooner than Isabelle had expected. The courtroom felt even more oppressive than before, the air heavy with tension and anticipation. She sat beside Olivia, her hands clenched tightly in her lap, trying to control the trembling. Isabelle's eyes darted to the jury box where twelve strangers would decide her father's fate. She wondered what they saw when they looked at her: a scared girl, a broken victim, or something else entirely.Olivia reached over and squeezed Isabelle's hand, grounding her. "Whatever happens today, Izzy, you've already shown more courage than anyone should ever have to. I'm so proud of you," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the murmurs in the courtroom.Isabelle nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. She tried to focus on Olivia's words, letting them wrap around her like a protective blanket. She knew that, no matter what, Olivia was in her corner.The courtroom fell silent as the judge entered, followed by the jury. The foreperson stood up, holding the folded piece of paper that contained Isabelle's future. Isabelle held her breath, feeling like the world was spinning around her, and the only thing keeping her grounded was Olivia's hand in hers."Has the jury reached a verdict?" the judge asked, his voice echoing in the tense stillness."We have, Your Honor," the foreperson replied, her voice clear but tinged with gravity.Isabelle's heart pounded so loudly in her chest that she was sure everyone could hear it. She forced herself to look straight ahead, bracing for whatever came next.**POV: Rafael Barba's**Barba kept his eyes trained on the jury, his face a mask of calm determination. He knew how much was riding on this moment—not just for the case, but for Isabelle's sense of justice, for her healing. He had given everything he had to make sure that the jury understood what Isabelle had been through and why these men needed to be held accountable.He watched as the foreperson opened the paper, her hands steady. "On the charge of kidnapping, we find the defendant, Austin Parks, guilty," she announced. There was a pause, then, "On the charge of sexual assault, we find the defendant, Austin Parks, guilty."Barba felt a rush of relief flood through him, but he stayed composed, not letting his guard down yet. The foreperson continued to read the guilty verdicts for each of Parks' accomplices. Each "guilty" felt like a victory, a step closer to justice for Isabelle and the countless others who had been hurt by these men.He turned his gaze to Isabelle and saw the shock on her face, the way her eyes widened as she heard the word "guilty" repeated again and again. It was as if she was slowly realizing that the nightmare might finally be over.**POV: Isabelle's**Isabelle's breath hitched, and her vision blurred with tears as she listened to the verdicts. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Each word seemed to chip away at the darkness that had wrapped itself around her heart for so long. She felt like she could finally breathe for the first time in years.She turned to Olivia, who was watching her with tears in her eyes, a proud smile breaking through her worried expression. Olivia pulled Isabelle into a tight hug, holding her as if she never wanted to let go."You did it, Izzy," Olivia whispered into her ear, her voice filled with awe and love. "You were so brave. It's over now. You're safe."Isabelle clung to her mother, her tears soaking into Olivia's shoulder. "I didn't think it would ever end," she said, her voice trembling. "I didn't think I'd ever be free.""You are," Olivia said, pulling back to look into Isabelle's eyes. "You're free, and we're going to build a new life from here. One where you never have to be afraid again."**POV: Rafael Barba's**Barba walked over to them, his normally stoic face softened by a rare smile. "You were incredible up there, Isabelle," he said, looking directly at her. "Your strength, your courage—it's what made this possible."Isabelle wiped her tears, giving him a small but genuine smile. "Thank you, Mr. Barba," she said. "For believing in me, for fighting for me."Barba nodded, a hint of pride in his eyes. "You did the fighting, Isabelle. I just made sure everyone listened."**POV: Isabelle's**As they walked out of the courtroom, Isabelle felt the sunlight on her face, and it seemed brighter, warmer than it had in a long time. She took a deep breath, feeling a sense of relief, of hope, that was new and unfamiliar but welcome. She knew that this wasn't the end of her journey—that there would still be hard days and healing to do—but for the first time, she felt like she had a future to look forward to.Olivia wrapped an arm around Isabelle's shoulders as they made their way down the courthouse steps. "So," Olivia said with a smile, "how about we go get some ice cream? I think today calls for a celebration."Isabelle laughed, the sound coming out lighter than she remembered it ever being. "Yeah," she said, smiling up at her mom. "I'd like that."And for the first time in what felt like forever, Isabelle believed that things were going to be okay—that she was going to be okay.