Chapter 3

"How can someone be this shameless? She's still playing the victim! Why don't you just die?"

"You went as far as hurting the people who loved you most. What were you thinking?"

"You're desperate to be a homewrecker, aren't you? Even your best friend's dad wasn't off limits?"

"Can we just sentence her to death already? Even better, send her to the Men's Nation and make her a disposable tool for the rest of her life!"

"This is so sad… I can't believe someone as considerate as Landon ended up like this because of love."

My expression shifted slightly. I clenched my damp palm and stayed silent.

Men's Nation was no joke. If I really ended up there, it wouldn't be something I could walk away from.

"Silence!"

The judge slammed the gavel down again, and the comments section finally eased up.

He stared at me with open disgust and said coldly, "Annabeth Leavitt, did you cause the death of Landon Schmidt's father, sell Schmidt Group's confidential information, and defraud someone of their assets? Did you knowingly insert yourself into another family, leading to someone's death?"

I nodded, neither confirming nor denying anything more than necessary.

"I did."

The courtroom fell silent for a moment. Only the faint sound of the comments section scrolling remained.

The judge clearly hadn't expected that kind of answer. He was so angry that he couldn't speak for a moment.

After a long pause, he glanced at the comments section, cleared his throat, and said, "Then you are sentenced to life imprisonment in Men's Nation.

"All your assets will be confiscated and used to compensate Landon Schmidt. For the crime of adultery, one of your legs will be amputated. Do you plead guilty?"

I looked straight at him and laughed. "No, I don't."

I turned to Landon and Yvette with an arrogant expression. The malice in my eyes was impossible to hide.

"So what if I did it?" I said. "I didn't do anything wrong, so I'm not pleading guilty."

I lifted my chin high, not missing a single flicker of expression on their faces.

Because of the memory extraction, Landon's face was deathly pale. He could barely hold himself up. Even so, he kept staring at me, eyes wide and pleading, like a dog begging not to be abandoned.

"Annabeth, you didn't do anything wrong. So… could you love me just a little? Even just a little would be enough."

Yvette had completely broken down. She was on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably, her face streaked with tears.

She even hurt herself, slapping her face until it turned bright red, yet she still screamed hoarsely at me, "Annabeth, why? My parents raised you for so many years, and this is how you repay them? Didn't my mom treat you well enough?"

The comments section exploded because of my arrogance. One comment stood out in particular.

"Annabeth, do you even have a conscience? You got so many people killed and ruined people's families, yet you still dare say you did nothing wrong? They were basically your parents. How can you show zero remorse?"

Countless curses surged toward me, converging like bolts of lightning as they struck my body. In no time, the pain had me shaking all over, blood seeping from the corner of my lips.

The judge lowered his voice and struck the gavel again. "Annabeth Leavitt, do you plead guilty?"

I clenched my fists tightly, swallowed the metallic taste in my mouth, straightened my back, and said, "I don't."

The enforcement officers were furious. They didn't even bother waiting for my plea and directly unleashed the lightning punishment on me.

With a loud bang, Landon rushed forward and threw himself in front of me, taking the strike in my place.

Moments later, his back was a bloody mess, but he still forced himself to stay upright and gently brushed my cheek. "Annabeth… are you okay?"

I watched him struggle in front of me with cold indifference. Then I kicked him back toward Yvette.

Under immense pressure and a flood of vicious comments, I spoke again, my voice firm and clear.

"I, Annabeth Leavitt, did nothing wrong. I will never plead guilty. This court is not qualified to judge me, and I request that my case be escalated to the Supreme Court. If the final verdict finds me guilty, I will end my life on the spot. Do you dare to do the same, Landon?"