Avery prepared a scrumptious lunch for Nina.
Once the two of them were done eating, Avery did the dishes before cleaning up the kitchen.
Then, she went to the nearby market to buy enough groceries to fill up the refrigerator. It was winter, so it was
inconvenient for Nina to head out. Thus, Avery kept the meat and the vegetables in the fridge properly so that it
was more convenient for Nina to cook in the future.
Nina was moved by Avery's careful consideration.
“We're about to have the holidays soon, so there's no need for you to go to the company for now. I'll talk to Cayden
about this and have him apply for annual leave for you,” Avery said to Nina before she left.
However, Nina shook her head. “I've been resting for a long time now. Please help me apply for leave until the new
year comes. Once the holidays are over, I'll be going to the office to work. You know how I'm not one to sit on my
hands. If I stay at home for too long, I'd end up overthinking instead.”
Knowing that she would not be able to change her mind, Avery agreed to it. “We'll talk about this after New Year
then. Rest well at home and call me if there's anything. I'm always available.”
After Avery left, Nina fell into deep thought.
Since she had made up her mind to give birth to the baby, she would have to think about the kind of life she was
going to lead from now on seriously.
After all, her future no longer was hers alone—a new life was going to join her. She had to plan well for the baby.
The next day, the world was still blanketed by a layer of silvery white despite the appearance of the sun.
Rays of sunlight filtered through the shades of the trees outside Ackleton's court.
Unlike the bright day, Avery was feeling grim.
It was time for Henrietta and Milana to receive a sentence.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAvery's face was devoid of any expression.
In the meantime, Cayden was sitting beside Avery in the first row of the spectator seat. Like her, he had a solemn
look on his face. The menacing aura he exuded made it hard for others to ignore his presence.
Both Henrietta and Milana were in prison uniforms, and they were standing in the dock, looking knackered.
Due to her many days of imprisonment, the charming Henrietta looked like she had aged ten years. There were
even strands of white hair by the sides of her head, and her usually-straight back was hunched.
On the other hand, Milana's long hair had been cut short, and it was messy. She looked pale, and there were
eyebags under her eyes. It seemed like she had lost much weight, and even her large eyes were sunken in.
It looked like they did not have a good time in prison.
Yet, Avery felt no pity for them.
They brought this upon themselves. If they didn't kill my father, they wouldn't have ended up like this.
Nevertheless, flames of fury manifested in the mother-and-daughter duo when they saw Avery. They were glaring
daggers of hatred at her, and if not for the guards watching over them, they would have darted toward Avery to
skin her alive.
Right then, Weston uttered, “The defendants Henrietta Landry and Milana Rumpley had verbally agitated Leonardo
Rumpley despite knowing his poor health. Their actions were immoral and violated the law. Moreover, even after
realizing something amiss about Mr. Rumpley's condition, they chose to do nothing instead of calling for the doctor.
Their verbal agitation triggered Mr. Rumpley's ill condition and undeniably caused his death. Therefore, they have to
bear full responsibility for Mr. Rumpley's death. They have to be punished severely for this.”
“Objection!” said Xenia, who was dressed in a set of dark formalwear and had her hair done up. Her expression was
cold as she continued, “Leonardo Rumpley was already diagnosed with cancer. Even without my defendants' verbal
agitation, he did not have long to live. Hence, why should we pin all the blame on my defendants? Furthermore,
they spoke nothing but the truth to Mr. Rumpley. He was simply too mentally fragile to withstand the truth. Even if
my defendants have to bear a certain amount of legal responsibility for his death, it should not be the full
responsibility. Subjectively speaking, they had made a mistake, but they did not have the intention of speeding up
his inevitable death. What happened was an argument that was a little too intense. At most, they should be
punished according to tort law.”
Weston turned to look at Xenia as his heart ached.
He could not believe that the prideful woman of the past had ended up falling from grace.
Her hatred for him and her desire to embarrass him made her intervene in every case he took up. It did not matter
even if her defendants were immoral.
This time, she even volunteered to work as Henrietta and Milana's defense attorney just so that she could have the
chance to defeat him.
Weston witnessed Xenia's growth through several court cases.
It seemed like she had vastly improved. Now, she was more capable and cunning, and she was exceptionally good
at exploiting loopholes in the legal system. There were a few times when he nearly lost to her, and if not for his
sophistry, he would have been defeated.
To make it up for her, he intentionally went easier on her so that she could win him.
However, Cayden's woman, Avery, was involved in the case he was currently working on. Hence, he could not go
easy on Xenia anymore.
“Ms. Somner, your defendants knew the severity of Leonardo's condition and how likely he might die from the
aggravation of his condition. Yet, they continued to verbally assault him. The surveillance cameras have caught
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmthem red-handed in their evil acts, and I'm certain that isn't something you can deny, right? Without a doubt, the
deliberation of their action makes this case a criminal act. What they've done is akin to intentional homicide, and
they have to be legally held responsible for that!” Weston refuted.
The two of them were engaged in a fierce verbal battle in the court.
Both of them were well-known lawyers, and in no time, their battle became intense.
Avery's heart was in her throat, and she was so nervous that she could barely breathe.
I never thought that the defense attorney had a silver tongue. I'm scared that Weston will fail. I'll never be able to
accept it if Henrietta and Milana end up receiving a light sentence.
Perhaps Cayden sensed Avery's anxiousness, for he wrapped his hand around Avery's hand and whispered a
reassurance. “Don't worry. Weston will surely emerge as the victor.”
He trusted Weston's ability.
Although Xenia was a crafty and capable woman, she was still not as good as Weston.
Indeed, Weston did not let them down.
Near the end, the judge declared, “Defendants Henrietta Landry and Milana Rumpley, you knew that Leonardo
Rumpley was gravely ill, but you still aggravated his condition verbally and caused his death. The evidence against
you is sufficient to show that the defendants acted knowingly and intentionally. Therefore, the defendants are found
guilty of intentional homicide and will be serving in prison for ten years. You will also receive a fine of four hundred
and fifty thousand. If you dissatisfied with the order, you can file an appeal through this court or directly to the
Court of Appeals for Ackleton within ten days from the second day of receiving the judgment.”
Upon hearing her heavy sentence, Milana, who had been quiet until then, abruptly lunged toward Avery like a mad
woman. Alas, the guards stopped her.
Nevertheless, Milana shrieked, “Avery, you b*tch! This was all your fault! If you didn't become a surrogate,
Leonardo's condition wouldn't have been aggravated! I'm not going to let you off the hook! I'm going to appeal! I
will!”