The Bride Widow
Chapter 188 - 186: Jackson’s trial - Part 2

Chapter 188: 186: Jackson’s trial - Part 2

The morning of the trial was heavy with tension as Anabella arrived at the courthouse. She clutched her coat tightly around her, the chill of the day biting at her skin, but it was nothing compared to the nervous energy churning inside her. Noah and Clair flanked her, their presence a steadying force, and she was grateful for their support.

As she made her way up the courthouse steps, her eyes landed on a familiar figure standing near the entrance. Her step-mother, Helena, was waiting for her, a sharp scowl etched across her face. Anabella hesitated, considering walking straight past her, but Helena spotted her immediately and stepped into her path.

"Anabella," Helena said, her voice dripping with condescension. "You’re late. I was beginning to think you’d lost your sense of duty altogether."

Anabella frowned. "I don’t have any duty to you, Helena. Or to Jackson."

Helena scoffed, clearly unimpressed. "Is that how you’re going to play this? Pretending you’re above it all? Your brother is inside, facing ruin, and you’re acting like you don’t care."

Anabella straightened her spine, her voice firm. "I don’t care, Helena. Jackson made his own decisions, and now he has to face the consequences. I’m not here to save him."

Helena’s face darkened with anger. She grabbed Anabella’s arm, her nails digging in just enough to make her wince. "Listen to me, girl. You’re his sister—his family. If you don’t help him, who will? Do you really want that guilt hanging over your head?"

Anabella pulled her arm free, her expression unyielding. "I’ve carried enough guilt because of you and Jackson. I’m done being your puppet."

Helena’s eyes narrowed. "You ungrateful little brat. After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me? Do you have any idea what this will do to our family?"

Anabella let out a bitter laugh. "What family, Helena? The one you broke apart to serve your own interests? The one you sold me off to when it suited you? I don’t owe you or Jackson anything."

Helena’s fury boiled over. "You’ll regret this, Anabella. Mark my words."

Without another glance, Anabella walked past her step-mother, her head held high. Noah and Clair, who had been watching from a distance, stepped closer to her. Clair placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You did the right thing," she said softly.

Anabella nodded, though her heart was racing. The confrontation had left her shaken, but she refused to show it. She had made her choice, and she was determined to see it through.

______

Inside the courtroom, the atmosphere was tense. Jackson sat at the defendant’s table, his usual arrogance replaced by a nervous energy. His lawyer, a wiry man with a sharp tongue, was flipping through his notes with a practiced air of confidence. Anabella took her seat in the gallery, Noah and Clair on either side of her.

The trial began with the prosecution presenting their case, outlining Jackson’s involvement in the crimes he was accused of. Anabella listened intently, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She could feel the weight of Helena’s glare from across the room, but she refused to look her way.

When it was the defense’s turn, Jackson’s lawyer wasted no time trying to shift the blame. "Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his voice smooth and calculated, "my client may have made some poor decisions, but he was not acting alone. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that others were involved—specifically, his sister, Anabella."

A murmur rippled through the courtroom, and Anabella felt her stomach drop. Noah tensed beside her, his jaw clenching. Clair reached over and gave Anabella’s hand a reassuring squeeze.

The lawyer continued, "Anabella, who has a history of strained relations with her family, could very well have played a role in orchestrating these events. After all, what better way to distance herself from her family than by ensuring their downfall?"

Anabella remained calm, her expression neutral. She knew better than to let the accusations rattle her. This was exactly what Jackson’s lawyer wanted—a reaction that could be twisted to his advantage. Instead, she kept her focus on the judge, who was listening to the defense with a growing look of disapproval.

When the defense finished their argument, the judge leaned forward, his voice stern. "Mr. Thompson," he said, addressing Jackson’s lawyer, "this court is here to determine your client’s guilt or innocence based on the evidence presented, not to engage in baseless speculation about unrelated parties. Unless you have concrete evidence to support your claims, I suggest you focus on the matter at hand."

Jackson’s lawyer faltered, clearly taken aback by the judge’s admonishment. He muttered a quick apology and moved on, but the damage had been done. Anabella allowed herself a small sigh of relief, though she remained vigilant.

As the trial continued, it became increasingly clear that Jackson’s defense was crumbling. The evidence against him was overwhelming, and the prosecution presented a compelling case that left little room for doubt. Anabella watched as her brother squirmed in his seat, his usual bravado replaced by desperation.

When the trial finally adjourned for the day, Anabella stood and stretched, feeling the weight of the proceedings settle on her shoulders. Noah and Clair flanked her as they exited the courtroom, their presence a comforting shield against the prying eyes and whispered gossip.

Outside, Helena was waiting for her, her face a mask of barely contained rage. Anabella braced herself for another confrontation, but before Helena could say a word, Noah stepped between them.

"I think you’ve said enough for one day," he said, his tone calm but firm.

Helena glared at him but didn’t argue. With a huff, she turned and stormed off, leaving Anabella to exhale a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

"You handled yourself well in there," Clair said, her voice warm and encouraging.

Anabella managed a small smile. "Thanks to you two," she said. "I don’t know if I could’ve done it without you."

Noah shook his head. "You were strong long before we showed up. You just needed to remember it."

As they walked away from the courthouse, Anabella felt a newfound sense of resolve. She had faced her brother, her step-mother, and the weight of her past, and she had come out stronger on the other side. For the first time in a long time, she felt free.

As the courthouse doors closed behind her, Anabella felt an overwhelming wave of relief wash over her. The trial was over, the weight of her family’s accusations lifted from her shoulders. She had survived, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she could breathe again. But that relief came with an unexpected cost. Her legs, trembling from exhaustion and tension, suddenly gave out beneath her.

"Noah!" Clair exclaimed, catching Anabella just before she crumpled to the ground.

Anabella looked up at them, her face pale and damp with sweat. She tried to smile, waving a hand dismissively. "I’m fine," she said weakly, though her voice betrayed her exhaustion. "Really, I just... need a moment."

Noah crouched beside her, his sharp eyes scanning her face. "This isn’t just needing a moment, Anabella," he said firmly. "You’ve been through a lot today. You need to get checked out."

"No, no," Anabella protested, though her voice lacked conviction. "I’m fine. It’s just... everything catching up to me. I promise."

Clair shook her head, her tone gentle but resolute. "Anabella, you’ve been running on adrenaline for weeks. And now that it’s over, your body’s letting you know it’s had enough. We’re taking you to a doctor, no arguments."

Before Anabella could protest further, Noah carefully scooped her up into his arms as if she weighed nothing. "You’ve done enough on your own," he said, his tone softer now. "Let us take care of you this time."

Anabella sighed, realizing it was pointless to argue with them. She rested her head against Noah’s shoulder, too tired to fight back. "I really am okay," she murmured, though even she wasn’t sure she believed it anymore.

The pair carried her to their car, Clair sitting in the back seat with Anabella while Noah drove. The hum of the engine and Clair’s soothing presence helped Anabella relax, though she couldn’t shake the embarrassment of being fussed over like this.

At the clinic, the doctor gave her a thorough examination, listening carefully as Anabella described the events of the day and the past few weeks. "Physically, you’re fine," the doctor concluded after running some basic tests. "But you’re clearly dealing with a lot of stress and exhaustion. It’s no wonder your body is reacting this way."

"See?" Anabella said with a small smile, glancing at Noah and Clair. "Just stress. Nothing to worry about."

Noah crossed his arms, his expression stern. "Stress isn’t nothing, Anabella. If you keep pushing yourself like this, you’ll collapse again—or worse."

Clair nodded in agreement, reaching out to take Anabella’s hand. "You’ve been so strong through everything, but even the strongest people need rest. Promise us you’ll take it easy for a while?"

Anabella hesitated, looking at the concern etched on their faces. Finally, she nodded. "Okay. I promise."

As they left the clinic, Anabella felt a new kind of relief settle over her. For the first time in years, she wasn’t facing everything alone. And that, she realized, was the kind of strength she needed most.