Chapter 11
Richard was so selfish that he could destroy my entire life just to serve his own interests.
Now, he had the nerve to come and ask for my forgiveness. Even the fact that Margaret had someone hurt me seemed like a trivial matter to him.§
Richard’s audacity was beyond anything I could tolerate.
With cold fury in my eyes, I refused to engage with him any longer.
I snatched the report from his hands and said, “Let me make this clear, Richard: you and Margaret are both despicable. You deserve to be punished for what you’ve done and you have no right to stand beside me!“}
“You say there’s no evidence? Fine, I’ll find the proof myself. I won’t let this slide, even if it means I have to expose my own suffering to make sure you face the consequences of your actions!”
“No… no, Eve! Those painful memories will only drag you down. Evidence isn’t easy to come by–please don’t be so stubborn!“} At that moment, the door swung open behind me.”
“Who says there’s no evidence?“}
I turned quickly to see Charles stepping in, holding a small tape recorder.
“Commander Harisson, everything you just said has been recorded. I think this should count as evidence, don’t you?”
At Charles’s words, Richard’s face lost all its color.
Before long, our teamates reached out to the military in Ostmarc City and Richard was taken back to the city in custody.
Charles and I also took leave from our duties at the Great Corona Plains. This time, I was determined to ensure that both Richard and Margaret faced justice!}]
What surprised me was that upon returning to Ostmarc City, I found out that Charles’s siblings were all in law enforcement.
They quickly helped me gather some crucial documents and evidence from that time. I learned from the man who assaulted me that it was indeed Margaret who had paid him, but Richard had been there the whole time. He wasn’t the mastermind, but he was complicit.}
The village chief also confirmed the details about the tampered admission letter and the driver responsible for the accident was arrested right away.“]
With solid evidence in hand, three months later, Margaret was caught in the countryside. She was sentenced to twenty years in prison for aggravated assault and for instigating the rape.
Since Richard was an accomplice, he couldn’t escape the consequences either. After he got expelled from the military, he received a prison sentence of less than five years.}
As the judge read the verdict, he turned to look at me and whispered something. I knew he was trying to apologize, but honestly, I didn’t need it anymore.
At last, all the people who had ruined my life were finally brought to justice and I was ready to begin anew.
I signed up for the adult education exam scheduled for a year from now, taking advantage of the new policies. Charles and I boarded the train to the Great Corona Plains together.
It was crowded, so he walked ahead, keeping an eye on me, glancing back every so often. This time, I didn’t pull away. Instead, I stepped forward and took his hand confidently.
I thought to myself, this was what love truly meant to be.”
(The End)
3/9
