Chapter 156: The Day Of Reckoning (3)

Cassie shifted uneasily as the judge waited for her response.

Her lawyer had spent the last few minutes whispering instructions, but the woman seemed unable to settle down. Her eyes occasionally wandered toward the gallery, where Evelyn sat beside Ethan and Nora.

She eventually lowered her head and faced the judge.

"Your Honour, I didn’t intend to hurt the child," She began. "I admit that I gave her the snacks, but I didn’t know they would cause such a serious reaction."

The prosecutor rose immediately.

"Your Honour, the defendant has already acknowledged that she was aware of the child’s medical condition. The recording also contains her admission that she deliberately gave the child the snacks despite knowing the possible consequences."

Cassie quickly shook her head. "That’s not what I meant!"

The judge raised a hand, stopping her.

"Allow the prosecution to finish."

The prosecutor continued. "The defence has suggested that the conversation was taken out of context. However, the defendant has not provided any credible explanation for the statements she made in that recording."

Cassie’s lawyer stood to respond. He argued that the recording should be considered alongside the circumstances surrounding the conversation and that his client had been under considerable emotional pressure.

The prosecutor challenged the argument, pointing out that the defendant’s statements were clear and that her knowledge of Nora’s condition had already been established through the testimony.

The judge listened to both sides before asking the defence to present any evidence supporting its position.

Cassie’s lawyer consulted with her briefly. He then explained that the defence disputed the allegation of deliberate endangerment but had no independent evidence capable of disproving the central contents of the recording.

Cassie looked at him in disbelief.

He leaned closer and whispered something, but she barely seemed to hear him.

The judge glanced through the case documents once more. "The court has heard the testimony of the father and the minor involved. It has also reviewed the medical records and the audio evidence presented by the prosecution. Before making a determination, I want to address the defendant directly."

Cassie slowly raised her head.

"Earlier, you suggested that the child requested the snacks from you. Is that still your position?"

She hesitated. "Yes, Your Honour. I mean..."

The judge narrowed his eyes slightly. "The child has testified that she did not request them. Furthermore, your own statements in the recording indicate that you knew about her condition before giving her the food. Can you explain this contradiction?"

Cassie opened her mouth, but no words came out immediately.

"I... I didn’t think it would become this serious."

"That does not answer the question."

Her fingers tightened against each other.

The prosecutor rose again. "Your Honour, if I may, the defendant’s own words provide a clearer explanation than her present account. She admitted knowing that the child had asthma and deliberately exposing her to something that could trigger an attack. Her subsequent attempt to blame the child is contradicted by the evidence."

Cassie’s lawyer stood, but after a brief exchange with his client, he offered little more than a request that the court consider the circumstances before reaching its decision.

The judge nodded and returned his attention to Cassie.

"Do you have anything further to say in your defence?"

For several seconds, the woman remained silent.

Then her composure began to crumble.

"Your Honour, please..." Her voice trembled. "I didn’t think something like this would happen. I didn’t mean for her to end up in the hospital."

The judge watched her without interrupting.

Cassie turned toward the gallery, her eyes searching desperately until they settled on Evelyn.

"Evelyn, please..."

The white-haired woman stared at her.

For a moment, their eyes met, and Cassie seemed to find a little hope in that brief connection. She leaned forward slightly, her lips trembling.

"Please, you know me. I didn’t think things would go this far. Can you tell them—"

Evelyn slowly shook her head.

She didn’t say anything. She simply looked away, her hand moving to rest on Nora’s shoulder.

Cassie’s expression crumpled.

Ethan watched the exchange without interfering. He had no intention of speaking on Evelyn’s behalf, nor did he feel the need to offer Cassie another opportunity to explain herself.

The woman had already been given several chances to tell the truth.

She had chosen otherwise.

The judge finally brought the discussion to an end, asking both sides whether they had anything further to submit. The prosecutor confirmed that the state had concluded its case, while the defence stated that it had no additional evidence to present.

After reviewing the evidence and considering the arguments, the judge delivered his decision.

"The court finds that the prosecution has established beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant knowingly exposed the minor to a substance capable of triggering a severe allergic reaction. The medical evidence confirms the seriousness of the resulting attack, while the audio recording and witness testimonies establish that the defendant acted deliberately."

He paused, allowing the words to settle.

"The defendant’s attempt to deny responsibility is inconsistent with the evidence before this court. Her actions placed a child’s life at serious risk, and the court cannot treat such conduct lightly."

Cassie’s shoulders began to shake.

"Accordingly, the defendant is found guilty."

A heavy silence settled over the courtroom.

Evelyn’s fingers tightened around Nora’s hand. She hadn’t realized how much tension she had been carrying until she heard those words.

The judge continued, explaining that the offence was serious, particularly because the victim was a minor whose medical vulnerability had been known to the defendant. He also considered the circumstances presented by the defence before determining the appropriate punishment.

"Having considered the evidence, the nature of the offence, and the circumstances surrounding it, this court sentences the defendant to five years’ imprisonment."

Cassie stared at the judge.

For a moment, she appeared unable to understand what had just happened. Then she shook her head repeatedly.

"Five years?" She whispered, her voice breaking. "Your Honour, please! That’s too much!"

The judge struck his gavel.

"The sentence has been pronounced. The defendant will be remanded in custody in accordance with the court’s order."

The police officers approached Cassie.

"No! Please, wait!" She struggled to pull away as they took hold of her arms. "I didn’t mean to kill her! Evelyn, please!"

Evelyn didn’t turn around.

Nora watched silently as Cassie was escorted out of the courtroom. The faint smile that had appeared on her lips earlier returned, although she made no attempt to celebrate openly.

She simply looked toward the door until the woman disappeared.

The judge made a few final remarks concerning the court’s order before declaring the proceedings concluded.

"That will be all. Court is adjourned."

The court officer announced the dismissal, and the people present began rising from their seats.

Ethan stood and offered Evelyn a hand. She accepted it, then reached for Nora’s other hand.

"Let’s go," He said quietly.

The three walked out of the courtroom together.

Once they were in the corridor, Evelyn released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Her expression remained complicated, but the tension in her shoulders had eased considerably.

Ethan glanced at her. "Are you okay?"

She nodded slowly. "Yes. I think I am."

He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze before looking down at Nora.

"And you, sweetheart?"

Nora nodded. "I’m okay, Dad."

"Good."

They continued toward the exit.

Ethan wasn’t particularly interested in celebrating Cassie’s imprisonment. To him, the matter had simply been resolved, and that was enough. The woman had endangered his daughter’s life, and now she would face the consequences of her actions.

One nuisance had finally been taken care of.

As they stepped outside the courthouse, the morning sunlight fell across the entrance. Ethan took out his phone, intending to check the time before heading toward the parking lot.

However, before he could unlock the screen, a familiar notification appeared in his vision.

[Hidden Personal Mission — Get rid of one of your family problems — Complete!]

Ethan’s steps slowed.

He glanced at the notification, then briefly looked at Evelyn and Nora to make sure neither of them had noticed anything unusual.

Another line appeared beneath it.

[You have received...]