49: Sentenced To Prison

Angela sat in the cold courtroom, her hands trembling slightly as she fidgeted with the hem of her dress. The weight of the past few weeks bore down on her like a boulder, and the grim expressions on the faces of the jury only made it worse.

She glanced at her lawyer, a man who had been appointed at the last minute and had proven woefully inadequate during the proceedings. He seemed more interested in flipping through his notes than actually fighting for her.

“All rise,” the bailiff’s voice rang out.

Angela stood, her knees weak. The judge entered, his face stern and unforgiving. The tension in the room was palpable as everyone sat again. The prosecution wasted no time bringing forward evidence—photos, documents, testimonies—all meticulously arranged to paint Angela as guilty.

She listened, helpless, as witness after witness accused her of crimes she didn’t commit. She wondered how Royals was able to find a few glass witnesses.

Even her protests sounded hollow under the weight