Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

"No... No... No!" Sophia shook the metal railing so much that they were rattling. She continued to protest. She looked at Silas with a ferocious look on her face.

She shouted, "Silas! You used false evidence to deceive me! As a prosecutor, how could you present false evidence? You were misusing your power! This is malpractice! Your evidence should be made inadmissible!" Silas stared at her mockingly. He didn't look afraid of her at all.

It was indeed his dream to beca just prosecutor. This time, he had risked being suspended when he used false evidence to trick Sophia.

That said, he didn't regret it a single bit.

It didn't matter who it was who was seeking justice. It could've been someone other than Alyssa's lover. The victim could've been someone other than Jasper's mother. He would have done the swithout any hesitation.

His duty wasn't merely to adhere to the procedures of a prosecutor but to ensure justice prevailed, even if it meant confronting the darkest truths at any cost.

"You're right in saying that the evidence was false. This medicine bottle is different from the one you had in the first place. Your prints were not on this bottle either.

"Nonetheless, you have confessed to murder. You admitted to pushing the victim downstairs. This is irrefutable evidence! "No matter what evidence | presented or how I tried to deceive you, you wouldn't have said all these if you were truly innocent! "You committed murder 20 years ago, and for 20 years, you've been the wife of a plutocrat. You didn't have to commit murder with your own hands. You could have apy contracted a killer.

"You might not necessarily be sentenced to death for your crthis time. However, justice will prevail. Today, you must pay for the sin you committed 20 years ago!" Silas' every word struck a chord in everyone's hearts.

Everyone in the gallery was silent. The reporters outside the courtroom also kept quiet. Even the viewers watching the livestream on the courthouse's official website paused.

The silence around them was deafening.

Right at this time, an ear-piercing screech cfrom the sound system on both sides of the courtroom. Shortly after, a recording played through the sound system. It was the recording that Nina had risked her life to record.

Only a snippet—the most important part of the recording was played. Everyone recognized Sophia's voice immediately.

The Becketts and Alyssa's family recognized that the other voice belonged to Betty. Other than them, no one else could tell that the other person in the recording was Betty.

"What... What is this? How is this recording being played?" The police officers headed to the AV room to have a look. The judges were shocked, too! Steven was the only one with a calm expression on his face. As a judge, it was his duty to maintain order in the courtroom.

However, he chose to keep silent at this moment.

Sophia was like a zombie who had just lost her soul then. Her entire body went limp, and she crumpled to the floor.

Despite her mental fortitude, even the most villainous individuals had a breaking point.

At the stime, Betty was shaking like a leaf. She was biting her fingernails until they almost bled. "Lyse, this voice recording. Was it your doing?" Jasper grabbed Alyssa's hand and asked in surprise. Alyssa had a confused look on her face, too. She blinked and answered, "It wasn't me. If | had made any arrangements, | would've told you in the first instance." All of a sudden, her cell phone started vibrating in her purse. She pulled her phone out to check. To her surprise, it was a text message from Axel.

"Lyse, did you like the surprise | prepared for you all?" Alyssa gasped. She typed her reply as quickly as she could. "Axel, the recording. You were the one who played it?" "Out of all your brothers, who else but myself has the ability to hack into the courthouse's computer system? Even your partner, my school's alumnus, doesn't know this trick of mine." Alyssa narrowed her eyes. "Are you seeing someone, Axel?" Axel: "Seeing someone? | don't have tfor that. No way!" Alyssa: "How did you learn to be so cheeky?" Axel: "Hey, | was just helping all of you relieve sof the solemnness and pressure." Alyssa was just teasing him. Deep down, she did indeed feel more at ease.

Hurriedly, she showed Jasper her message exchange with Axel. She leaned her head against his.

"When is Axel coming back? | need to thank him in person." Jasper's eyes were full of gratitude.

"Uh. You scared him off with your drinking skills the last time. I'm guessing that he wouldn't want to see you again so soon." Alyssa shrugged.

Jasper chuckled. He hadn't even shown his full capability yet.

The interlude in the courtroom ended. The court session resumed.

The look on Steven's face was frigid. He hammered his gavel loudly. "We will adjourn for now. The court will resat 3:00 pm to announce the verdict!" Right after Steven said that, Javier stood up. The air around him was frosty. He left without turning back.

After that, everyone who cwith him began to rise from their seats, too. They, too, left the courtroom. In the blink of an eye, the gallery, which was previously filled to the brim, was now empty. Only the Taylors were left.

"Javier, that wasn't true! I've never murdered anyone! Javier!" Sophia was still on the floor. She wailed as she reached her hand out toward Javier.

However, the only response she received was the sound of the door closing heavily.