Two Hours Later – Verdict
Maria couldn't feel her hands. She sat beside Ethan, her chest rising and falling in shallow, panicked breaths. Rafael was behind them, silently staring ahead. The judge looked up as the jury filed in.
The foreman stood.
"In the matter of Maria-Isabel Williams Lewis, on the charge of murder in the first degree... we find the defendant…"
A pause. "…Not guilty." Maria gasped. "In the charge of second-degree murder…"
"Not guilty."
A whisper swept through the courtroom.
Ethan bowed his head. Maria's hand flew to her mouth as tears flooded her eyes. The judge nodded solemnly. "Maria-Isabel Williams Lewis, you are free to go."
The moment shattered.
Maria collapsed into Ethan's arms, sobbing—not from grief, but from release. Ethan held her close, murmuring into her hair, "You're going home. You're going to be okay."
Rafael stepped forward, nodding at Ethan. "You did it."
"No," Ethan said. "She did."
