SHE BELONGED TO MY BROTHER

CHAPTER ONE

Julia POV:

Five years ago …

“State your name and your relationship with the defendant “ The judge said, eyes sharp under the rim of his glasses.

I took in sharp intakes of breaths to calm my nerves and trembling hands, as I stood at the witness stand watching the man I was meant to walk down the aisle with get prosecuted for a crime I'm well aware he committed.

I shouldn't be doing this. I shouldn't be standing here, willing and ready to speak against him. He said he loved me, he said he did everything for his family but this … this was far beyond love.

It was a crime. No one does this for the people they claim to love, it was sadistic. Even though I knew from the start the kind of man he was, I didn't expect this, and regardless of how much regret I'll feel in the future. The pain of letting a criminal go unpunished will eat me up quicker than my regret, so that's why I'm here.

To testify against my fiancee.

I exhaled “My name is Julia Caruso. I'm the Fianceè of the defendant; Dominick Salvatore …” I paused, subconsciously my eyes drifted to meet his. Soft and almost sadden by the state of things, looking at him; one would think he was innocent.

"... I'm here to testify against him" I finally said and the whole room erupted in shock gasps even Dominick stared at me in confusion.

The judge leaned back slightly, studying me, then nodded for me to proceed.

The registrar stepped forward, and took away the Bible from the stand which I used for the oath taking earlier before proceeding to speak up.

“Miss Julia. State your testimony against your fiance ?"

It took me a few minutes to gather my thoughts together. I needed to calm my nerves, as I could feel my hands shaking and my knees growing weak. The anxiety was already creeping forward.

I need to focus. Breathe in. Breathe out.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

I need to do this. Justice needs to be served, regardless of what he means to be, I have to choose to do right by that family no matter what I feel for you Dominick. You're not the man I thought I knew, you're just a monster.

I lifted my hands and then held unto the stand as tightly as possible, to gain some stability and stop my trembling fingers.

" Miss Julia. The court still awaits your response, please do not waste the court's time” The judge spoke up, his tone a bit harsh.

" I'm sorry your honor” i apologized immediately with a bow before presenting the court with the needed evidence and stating my testimony.

The silence that followed was heart wrenching. They were all shocked by the things I said and by the fact that I his fiancee would go as far as testifying against him.

I had no choice. It was either this or spend the rest of my life with a monster, I was hurt but glad at the same time. Hurt that I fell for his lies and glad that it didn't take walking down the aisle to see his true colours.

If I wasn't promised protection by the federation I wouldn't have risked my and the life of my loved ones for this, not especially after knowing who exactly the Salvatore family were.

The court proceedings went on, after I left the witness stand. It was like as if time paused as the judge began stating his verdict.

I knew he couldn't go scort free after all I've presented in court today but at the same time I couldn't stop the fear from floating to the surface of my mind. What if he isn't prosecuted to prison and then is set free. He wouldn't spare me.

Which is why when I heard the judge say “Mr Dominick Salvatore , you've been sentenced with life imprisonment with hard labour …” I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my lips, I wasn't happy. I was relieved.

I turned to look at Dominick to already find him staring at me so intensely it felt like he was boring holes into my head. The look in his eyes, were sadistic and pure evil that it sent shivers running through me, he was finally showing his true self.

As the officers dragged him out and he passed by me, I heard him whisper softly into my ears “Don't think you've escaped me. I'll always be there Julia, watching you and soon I'll be coming for you".

My eyes widened and I could feel myself shudder in fear, I looked up at the officer who promised my safety and a new identity. Who encouraged me to be here today, and he smiled slightly before approaching.

But before he could reach me a loud voice tore through the tension in the room.

“Julia !!!”