At precisely 3:00 p.m., the court adjourned as scheduled.


    Still broadcasting live, the courtroom had familiar faces of the presiding judge, prosecutor, intiff, and defendant.


    However, unlike the bustling crowd of the morning, the audience now consisted only of Be, Justin, and their close friends and family, creating a stark and chilling emptiness.


    None of the Salvador family members were present. Even Bethany, Shannon''s daughter, was too embarrassed to stay. Handcuffed, the authorities led Shannon and Winston back to their cells once again, depriving them of any dignity. Behind the cold iron bars, Shannon, her hair disheveled, nced numbly at the audience.


    Seeing only the Thompsons, her features twisted, and she burst intoughter.


    rence furrowed his brows, tapping his gavel and sternly reminding her, "Defendant, please remain silent!" Hunter''s expression was strained, barely held together, as if he were to copse with the slightest breeze. In simpler terms, he looked utterly defeated.


    Steven helped Linny''s grandmother slowly to the intiff''s seat, gently patting her back to calm her down.


    The eighty-year-old woman had barely endured the tumultuous morning session. She was too anxious to eat much at noon, waiting agonizingly for the court''s final verdict on these two criminals. Seeing this, Steven felt a bitter ache in his heart. He was deeply distressed by her suffering.


    He had spent countless nights


    preparing for this trial, determined to


    present the case and ensure Shannon got what she deserved. Yet he knew his efforts alone would not have been enough. Without Be and Justin''s strategic nning and Axel''s crucial intervention, Shannon would never have pleaded guilty in court.


    Everyone noticed one difference in rence from the morning session. This time, he was wearing sses.


    Outsiders might now know about this, but the Lovett brothers were well aware of their sibling''s habits.


    rence was quite image-conscious and had significant myopia, so he usually wore contact lenses in public.


    However, during extremely serious, solemn, and important asions, he would wear sses as part of a personal ritual.


    The courtroom was utterly silent.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    rence stood up solemnly, holding the judgment paper with both hands, his words clear and resonant as he announced, "I will now read the verdict for the defendant Winston''s intentional homicide case." Everyone held their breath, while Winston''s expressioncked the bleakness expected, even showing a hint of subtle relief.


    As a foreigner, he knew that, with


    Shannon sharing the me, he would likely serve twenty years here before getting deported back to Terranova. In twenty years, even at almost fifty years old, he would still have a chance to rebuild his life.


    With this thought, a dark, smug smile tugged at Winston''s lips.


    rence paused briefly before continuing with a powerful voice. "After careful investigation, we have confirmed that the defendant, Winston, had brutally murdered the victim and fled abroad for personal gain. The Savrow People''s Court finds the defendant guilty. His crime of taking a life for money and showing no remorse, fleeing abroad to resist capture, is particrly heinous and poses a severe threat to society. Therefore, the court must impose severe punishment on him. Thus, for the crime of intentional homicide, the defendant, Winston, is sentenced to death and deprived of political rights for life. The court will also confiscate all of his personal assets."