The verdict
1392 Words
Three days had passed since Eduardo Romano’s death.
Three days since Isabella’s life had changed forever.
During that time, she had barely been able to sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the same image again.
Her father lying on the floor, the blood, and Alexander standing beside him.
Although part of her heart refused to accept that reality, her mind kept asking the same questions over and over again.
Why was he there? Why were his hands covered in blood? Why was he holding the murder weapon?
That day, after spending hours battling her own thoughts, Isabella made a decision.
When she arrived at the prison where Alexander was being held, she felt an overwhelming ache in her chest.
The man who had been her husband for only a few days was now behind cold walls, awaiting trial for her father’s murder.
A guard escorted her to the visitation room. A few seconds later, Alexander appeared. The moment he saw her, his expression changed instantly.
For the first time in days, a small spark of hope appeared in his eyes.
“My love…”
A deep pain washed over Isabella as she heard that nickname. Those words had once been enough to make her smile. Now they only reminded her of everything she had lost. Alexander sat down across from her.
“I’m so glad you came. How have you been? How have you managed to get through all of this?”
Isabella remained silent. Her expression was cold, completely different from the woman he had known. Alexander immediately noticed the distance between them.
“Isabella… I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you. I know you lost your father, and I couldn’t stand by your side to support you. But they’ve kept me locked up in here.”
She stared at him for several seconds before asking the one question he never expected to hear.
“Why did you do it?”
Alexander immediately looked up, shock spreading across his face.
“What?”
“Why did you kill my father?”
Alexander seemed unable to believe what he had just heard.
“Are you really asking me that?”
Isabella pressed her lips together. She was so angry that only one thing mattered to her now—understanding what had happened.
“I want to know why you did it.”
“I didn’t kill your father.”
She let out a sarcastic smile, one that reflected the agony in her heart.
It wasn’t a smile of happiness.
It was a smile of disbelief.
“Are you still going to deny it?”
“Because it’s the truth.”
Alexander leaned toward her, trying to get her to look at him, but it was impossible. She couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes.
“Isabella, look at me. I can’t believe you think I’d be capable of something like that.”
“I saw it with my own eyes,” she finally replied.
Those words hurt him more than any accusation ever could. Alexander fell silent for a moment.
“I saw my father dead,” she continued, her voice breaking. “And I saw you standing next to him, covered in blood.”
“That’s not what happened.”
“The court will decide.”
Not wanting to hear another word, she stood up and finally looked him straight in the eyes.
“You’ll have your chance to prove you’re innocent.”
Alexander stood as well, watching in disbelief as the woman he loved cast him aside.
“Isabella, wait.”
But she had already walked away without looking back and left the visitation room.
One month later, the courtroom was packed with people. Journalists, relatives, and curious spectators had all gathered to learn Alexander Lancaster’s fate.
At the center of the courtroom, he sat beside his attorneys.
His face was serious, but his eyes revealed exhaustion. Throughout the entire month, he had repeated the same words.
“I didn’t do it.”
But no one seemed willing to believe him. Isabella sat among the spectators.
Victoria sat beside her, holding her hand with concern. On her other side was Daniel Montenegro, the man who had always been there for her.
Alexander noticed Daniel’s presence, and although he tried to ignore it, he couldn’t stop the sharp pang of pain. He had always known how Daniel felt about Isabella.
A few minutes later, the trial began. Alexander’s attorneys argued for his innocence, insisting that the evidence had been manipulated. Then the prosecutor confidently rose to his feet.
“Your Honor, the evidence clearly establishes the defendant’s responsibility.”
One by one, the evidence was presented.
The murder weapon found at the scene, Alexander’s fingerprints, photographs of his bloodstained suit, his blood-covered hands when he was found beside the body, and the fact that he had been at the crime scene when the murder occurred.
Every word felt like another stone crashing down on Alexander. The prosecutor stepped toward the witness stand.
“Mr. Lancaster, if you did not murder Eduardo Romano, explain something to us. Why were you standing beside the victim?”
Alexander clenched his jaw. He remained silent for a few moments and took a deep breath before answering.
“Because I walked in after I heard something.”
“And why was there blood on your hands?”
“Because I tried to help him.”
Murmurs immediately spread throughout the courtroom. The prosecutor smiled as he slowly shook his head.
“Stop pretending.”
Alexander closed his eyes for a second before looking toward Isabella.
There she was.
The woman he loved.
The woman who now looked at him as though he were a murderer.
“Isabella… I didn’t do it. I swear on my life that I didn’t kill your father.”
But she didn’t respond. The judge called for order in the courtroom.
“The jury may now deliberate. There is sufficient evidence to proceed. We will reconvene in one hour,” the judge finally said.
Some people stood from their seats, while others remained where they were. Alexander stepped down from the stand and sat beside his attorney.
He turned around and saw Isabella doing everything she could to avoid looking at him.
Time seemed to stand still.
An hour later, everyone returned and rose to their feet. The judge received the envelope containing the verdict.
“Attention.”
The courtroom fell completely silent. The anticipation was overwhelming. The judge opened the envelope and read it quietly before speaking loudly enough for the entire courtroom to hear.
“After reviewing the evidence presented and considering the testimony heard during this trial… the jury finds Mr. Alexander Lancaster guilty of the first-degree murder of Eduardo Romano.”
Alexander couldn’t believe it. It was unjust when all he had done was try to help.
“No… I didn’t kill anyone. I’m innocent.”
The judge slammed the gavel forcefully, silencing him.
“Order, Mr. Lancaster.”
Alexander fell silent while his attorney tried to calm him down.
“The defendant is hereby sentenced to thirty years in prison.”
Chaos erupted throughout the courtroom.
The officers seized Alexander. But before they could take him away, he managed to step a few feet closer to Isabella.
“Isabella!”
She looked at him, her eyes filled with tears.
“I swear I didn’t kill your father.”
For the first time, she didn’t avoid his gaze.
She looked directly into his eyes.
“I hate you.”
The words came out filled with unbearable pain.
“I never want to see you again for the rest of my life.”
Without waiting for a response, she turned around.
“Isabella! I didn’t kill him! I swear!”
But she didn’t turn back.
She kept walking until she left the courtroom. Isabella could no longer hold back her tears.
Victoria immediately wrapped her arms around her. The pain Isabella felt was beyond words.
“Everything will be okay.”
“No. Nothing is okay. My husband killed my father… and I don’t even know why he did it.”
Victoria tried to answer, but at that moment Isabella felt all her strength leave her.
Everything around her began to spin, and before she could say another word, she collapsed unconscious into Victoria’s arms.
- Writer
