I offered no denial or protest; I simply acknowledged my guilt.
The judge handed down a sentence of three years in prison, accompanied by a year of probation.
The courtroom erupted in cheers, and I caught a glimpse of my parents, their faces reflecting palpable relief.
Eliana’s eyes brimmed with tears while Wade held her close, his expression etched with pain as he offered quiet comfort.
Just as the judge was about to close the session, Garrett suddenly rose to his feet, proposing an appeal.
The room fell silent in shock, yet the proposal was both reasonable and lawful, leaving the court no choice but to accept it.
Though I had narrowly escaped disaster, a heaviness lingered in my heart, leaving no room for joy.
Garrett was Eliana’s boyfriend, and it was evident he had ulterior motives for his actions.
The trial quickly became a hot topic online, with public opinion overwhelmingly favoring the plaintiff, leaving me the target of relentless online attacks.
When I returned to the small restaurant, the landlady glared at me, her voice sharp. “Get out! I’m through with you!”
She hurled my belongings into the street.
“Saige, I took pity on you when you were homeless. I brought you in to work for me. I fed you and gave you a roof over your head. But to think you could be so cruel!”
She shook her head in disbelief and added, “You’ve bullied your own family, scheming to drive your sister to her end. I must have been blind to take you in. Here’s your wages for the past few days. Now, get as far away from here as you can!”
Tears welled in my eyes, and I didn’t dare to explain further.
No matter how miserable it was, I could only swallow it down.
This world had left no room for me.
As I quietly gathered my scattered clothes from the ground, people pointed and whispered amongst themselves.
“Isn’t that the girl who bullied her sister and faced her parents in court?”
“Yeah, it’s her; the story has already gone viral online.”
“She’s quite pretty, but who would’ve imagined her heart to be more poisonous than a snake’s?”
“Did you know? The most venomous hearts often belong to women.”
“She’s so young; she must just have turned eighteen. How could she commit such acts? Could she be wronged?”
“She can’t be wronged; anyone who has seen the trial video knows otherwise.”
“The things she did to her sister are truly unspeakable.”