Chapter 136: Chapter 136
Winter and Sebastian entered the courtroom together. There weren’t many audience mbers for this trial, but there were dozens of reporters. It seed that Sebastian deliberately used his dia connection to make sure that it was well published, so everybody would know about his mother’s wrongdoing.
The judge reviewed the case and kept on shifting his gaze between the docunt in his hand and Camilla who sat on a small chair directly facing the judge.
"This is a long list of bribery, Mrs. Camilla Saenz. You have been colluding with Officer John Carter from the New York Police Departnt for seven years, and the list of bribes is far too long for
to review one by one," the judge comnted. "I am sure you are well aware of every single transaction because the amount of money for bribery and gratification is no small amount."
"Yes, I rember every detail, Your Honor," Camilla responded. She showed no intention to argue, which was strange for Winter.
She genuinely thought Camilla would try all thods she had in her head to get herself out of this case. However, it seed like she had given up on everything, including defending herself.
The judge was genuinely surprised by her cooperation. He glanced at her lawyer who didn’t react at all. It appeared that she had accepted her fate, and would rather hear the verdict than avoid it.
Thus, the judge listened to the prosecutor’s description of all the staggering records of gratification and bribery between a huge loan shark business and the police departnt.
It was so much that even the judge had to take off his glasses and massage his brows to calm down.
"Mrs. Saenz, do you know that you have been running an illegal loan shark business? You also used intimidation and bullying tactics to make sure that victims dare not to report this to the police. Even if they do, you already bribed the police departnt to cooperate," the judge asked.
"It is as written in the report, Your Honor," Camilla said. "My loan shark business has been running for at least ten years, and I’ve been cooperating with the police departnt for seven."
Seeing that Camilla didn’t even try to defend herself, the judge glanced at the lawyer, and the lawyer nodded, "Your Honor, my client would rather make this quick, so she could hear the verdict. She told
that she has nothing to defend herself."
"May I know why are you doing this, Mrs. Saenz?" The judge probed.
"Because..." Camilla turned her head, directly staring at Sebastian and Winter. There was a thin smile full of mystery as she said, "I have no more ambition in this world."
Thus, after a long trial, the judge finally read the verdict.
"Based on all definitive pieces of evidence that had been gathered and reported, Mrs. Camilla Saenz has been guilty of bribery to the police departnt for seven years, illegally owning a loan shark business for ten years, intimidation and bullying, assault and battery to many of her clients in her loan shark business, and colluding with a high-ranked police officer," The judge read out all the things that Camilla had done, and there was not even a single word coming out of her lawyer. Camilla seed to already instructed him that she had no intention to fight back.
The judge continued reading about the laws and befitting sentence for each charge before he finally declared;
"The defendant will be charged for all of her long lists of cris. Therefore, I, Judge Clark Thompson, sentence you to twenty-five years in prison, with a possibility of parole after seven years."
The judge picked up his gavel and knocked it three tis.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
...
There was nothing but silence after the verdict had been delivered. None of the audience wanted to clap as Camilla was very cooperative.
She simply stood up and looked at Sebastian and Winter for the second ti. There was no fear in her eyes, and she smiled at them before being escorted out of the courtroom.
The last mont that Winter saw was Camilla’s lonely back before the door was shut.
...
Sebastian and Winter left the courtroom in a complicated mood, especially Sebastian who had just pushed his mother into a pit of hell called prison.
He knew it was the right thing to do, but it was still weighing his heart.
Thus, she stayed silent as he held the wooden box given by his mother on his lap.
The long drive back to their apartnt was eerily quiet, and Winter had been checking on him from ti to ti. She crossed her arms as she was also frustrated by the whole situation.
It was obvious that Camilla had made a lasting impact on Sebastian’s life, and she was trying to find a good way to make him feel better.
Sebastian and Winter entered the elevator, and as it went up, Sebastian said, "Thank you for accompanying
today, Winter. I don’t think I would ever have the strength had it not been for you to assure ."
Ding!
"I don’t know what the future holds between us. But when you told
that I’m not alone right in front of my mother. I feel relieved. I truly feel like I have successfully nded my mistake."
The elevator door was opened, and Sebastian stepped out of it. He turned around and smiled at Winter.
"I will return to my apartnt for now. I need ti to calm down after what happened today."
Sebastian looked at Winter with a complicated gaze. He seed to have sothing in mind but dared not to say it.
Before he turned around and left, Winter asked, "Mind if I co with you?"
Sebastian held his breath, and his eyes brightened instantly. He nodded and stretched his hand to his beloved, "I’d rather open this box with you. Let’s go, Winter."
Winter accepted his hand and they walked into his apartnt room together.
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