8
The courtroom was silent.
Even the judge and jury looked grave.
The plaintiff’s lawyer stood, “Your Honor,
regardless of the videos‘ authenticity, this
isn’t enough to prove the defendant
innocent.
“”
David smiled faintly. “Of course not. Besides
the videos, I have a witness.‘
“Who?”
“”
“The Carter’s recently dismissed
housekeeper, Mrs. Davis.”
Mrs. Davis took the stand, revealing hidden
truths.
“Your Honor, the snake under Lily’s pillow
was hers; I received the package, its fangs
already removed, harmless…
دو
“I saw Lily put expired milk in the fridge, then asked Rachel to get it…”
“The laptop with the bathroom photos was
Lily’s, she lent it to Rachel…
دو
“The needles in Lily’s shoes weren’t Rachel’s;
Lily put them there. I saw her take them back
to her room.”
Lily couldn’t sit still. “Stop lying! You’re
lying!”
“Rachel paid you to defame me!”
Mrs. Davis was firm. “You’re the liar, Rachel.
How could Rachel pay me?”
“After your third fake cutting incident, Mr.
Carter canceled her card. You stole most of
her allowance.”
“Rachel was hungry and cold at school,
scavenging for recyclables, facing judgment.” “If the junkyard owner wasn’t my old friend, I
wouldn’t know.”
My eyes welled. My parents and brother saw
me as an enemy; a dismissed housekeeper
spoke for me.
The irony was bitter.
John and Mark looked shocked.
They didn’t know about the allowance,
couldn’t believe I, the third daughter,
scavenged for food.
John didn’t believe Mrs. Davis, his face grim.
“Mrs. Davis, this is court. You’ll be held
accountable.”
“I will,”
Mrs. Davis raised her hand. “Your Honor, I
swear I’m telling the truth.‘
“”
“I worked for the Carters for over ten years,
diligently and honestly.‘
99
“Knowing Rachel was innocent, I didn’t speak
up.”
“They wouldn’t believe me, and I’d lose my
job.”
“But I felt guilty, burdened by my
conscience.”
“Finally, I can speak the truth!”
“It feels good!”
Despite the evidence, John couldn’t believe
his beloved Lily would do this.
The audience was quiet; online, chaos
reigned.
Comments were polarized.
Some supported Lily, claiming David’s
Others supported me, saying I was innocent.
Others were unsure, the twists too shocking.
David called another witness.
She was handcuffed and shackled, wearing
prison garb.
Her hair was white; her face gaunt.
Though years had passed, I recognized her.
The woman who trafficked me.
Lily’s face showed panic.
The woman explained she’d been sentenced
to twenty years for trafficking.
Twelve years ago, a young girl, around ten,
contacted her, paying a large sum.
The next day, I disappeared.
