The courtroom was quieter than usual. The buzz of anticipation had dulled, replaced by a tension so taut it threatened to snap. Word had spread after the last session Serena had shaken the very walls of the court with her emotional defense and the testimonies of victims’ families. Now, everyone waited to see if she could deliver again or if Cruz’s side would recover.
Serena stood near her table, hands clenched behind her back, eyes sweeping the room. Ashley and Ada decided to attend and give her moral support. They weren't the type to conveniently be there, but for some reason decided to. Serena’s gaze flicked toward the entrance. The families she had spoken to were supposed to appear again. They had agreed. They had cried with her, shaken her hands, vowed to speak.
But when the doors
