Because of the Accident (Book 1)

Chapter 16

Today was the day. The day I'd dreaded for months. The court hearing loomed ahead like a dark cloud, and I stood outside the courthouse, staring at the massive stone building as if it were the entrance to a prison. The weight of it all bore down on me, suffocating and crushing. Every second I spent in front of those towering doors only reminded me of how much was at stake, and how much I had already lost.

Flashes of bright lights interrupted my thoughts, pulling me back to reality. Reporters. They swarmed like vultures, shouting questions I couldn't hear, cameras thrust in my face. Their voices blended into a chaotic mess of noise that made my head spin.

"Mr. Nasco! Mr. Nasco! Do you have any comment about the case?"

"How do you feel about today's hearing?"

"Is it true you're pleading not guilty?"

I felt a wave of nausea crash over me. I couldn't do this. Not with them surrounding me, closing in like wolves circling their prey. I wanted to turn and run, leave the courthouse behind and disappear from this nightmare. Every fiber of my being screamed for me to get away.

But then I felt a hand on mine. Warm, steady, reassuring.

I looked over and saw Lia standing beside me, her calm expression softening the rising panic inside me. She squeezed my hand gently and mouthed the words, "It's okay." Her hazel eyes locked on mine, unwavering, and suddenly, the noise of the reporters faded into the background.

I took a deep breath. Maybe everything was going to be fine. Maybe I could walk into that courtroom and face what was coming. I gave Lia a small nod, trying to muster a smile, and she smiled back at me. The panic loosened its grip, just a little.

We pushed our way past the sea of reporters and into the courthouse. The doors shut behind us with a dull thud, sealing us in the quiet, cold lobby. It was a stark contrast to the chaos outside. The sterile, echoing silence was almost eerie. The marble floors glistened under the harsh fluorescent lights, and the scent of old wood and paperwork filled the air.

As Lia let go of my hand and took a seat in the gallery, I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. The faces that greeted me, the few people who had come to witness the hearing, were filled with varying emotions. I saw Miranda first, seated near the back, cradling Miracle in her arms. She gave me a weak smile through swollen, puffy eyes, the pain in her gaze unmistakable. She had cried, maybe all night, her expression haunted by the same grief that weighed on me. It was a reminder of what had been lost.

Next to her stood Jeremy, his posture rigid, his face unreadable. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, and though his eyes flickered briefly in my direction, he avoided direct eye contact. His silence over the months hadn't been one of accusation, but of disbelief. Now, here in this courtroom, his presence felt like a quiet acknowledgment of the horror that had tied us all together.

And then there was Charles. Arms crossed over his chest, his gaze bore into me from across the room. He hadn't spoken to me since the accident, not a single word. The rage radiating off of him was palpable, a thick tension that filled the air. His resentment had been simmering ever since that day, and it hadn't softened. If anything, it seemed sharper now. His glare, full of hatred, reminded me of the judgment hanging over my head—not just in this courtroom, but from the people who had once been family.

I quickly looked away, unable to hold his gaze, the weight of it too much to bear. My heart hammered in my chest, my palms slick with sweat. I couldn't afford to lose myself to their judgment. Not now. Not when everything depended on keeping a clear head.

Instead, I focused on the figures seated on the opposite side of the courtroom—the plaintiff and his entourage. I had never met these people, but their polished suits and stern expressions made it clear that they were professionals in every sense of the word. They looked like they belonged here, like they were in their element, while I felt like an outsider, standing on trial for something I didn't even fully understand. I fought the creeping feeling of helplessness, forcing myself to walk forward.