Chapter 4

Chapter Four.

Harlow POV

«TWO DAYS LATER»

The past two days were the first days of my life I can’t even describe it. Nobody believed me, and I was tagged as the main suspect. I was even charged to court, and now today is the last day.

That happened fast, and they were not ready to investigate further; it was as though it was a trap set by someone who wanted me dead.

I was brought into the courtroom, the judge, and everyone standing waiting for my judgment. Some were looking at me with pitiful eyes, while some were glaring at me; I was tired of explaining myself back to back.

I saw Sylvia sitting at the edge of the courtroom; she was looking pitiful, and her tears were still flowing but slowly.

Seeing her enraged me,e but I didn’t even have the time to lash at her. It was suspicious how she wasn’t with him when I got there. she was the last person to meet with him, to stay with him so how come she wasn’t suspected?

The more I think about it, the more there is to the murder; it is like someone is trying to use me to cover up their track and is doing anything to achieve that.

There was a loud bang as the bailiff made an announcement of the coming judge proceeding. I sighed as he made his statement.

"Court is now in session. All rise." He said, and they all rose, including the lawyer,s, as they took their seats after the judge sat down.

I sat down too, my eyes wandering at the lawyer in front of me; I knew my parents didn't get me a good lawyer. In the end, I would be found guilty and get killed like they all wanted.

"The Honorable Judge, Grace is in court." The bailiff said and bowed his head before the judge cleared his throat.

I was scared. Because they didn’t have their findings before, e they say I’m the main suspect. It was even more shocking that no witness was coming up, no matter how much I tried telling the prosecutor to check at the hotel I lodged overnight, he kept saying they found none.

"Case number (16520) The trial of Miss. Harlow Krane may now proceed." The woman announced and my prosecutor stood up. I was back to being a miss. This one is worse than a divorce.

"May I call in the witness, your honor?" He asked the judge's permission, and she permitted him.

"Go ahead." A frown formed across my face.

"Which witness?" I thought inwardly, staring at the crowd and I saw Sylvia standing up to come to the front. She took her seat and smiled.

She could tell lies, why would they trust her and not me? I mean she doesn’t look like someone who has come to tell the truth to everyone.

"Witness, please state your name and address for the record." The prosecutor requested and she wrote it down instantly, handing back the book to them.

"Regarding the defendant. How do you know the defendant?" He asked and she stared at me before talking. "My ex-best friend." She nailed it; I thought she’d call herself my best friend.

"Why your ex-best friend? I thought you were the best of friends?" He asked again; unnecessary questions annoy me more.

"Yes, we were. But the night her husband died, that evening, She caught us making out in their room and our bond ended at that moment." She explained; I hissed at her remarks; the people were staring at her disgustingly.

It was so disgusting how she could still say that in front of the whole people. No embarrassment at all? Gosh.

"So you are saying you had a secret relationship with the victim." He inquired, and she nodded, cleaning the fake tears that were coming out of her face; how could no one see through the tears?

"For how long has this been going on?" I just stared at her, who would have hated me enough to mark everyone turned their backs towards me, the only thing I could think of was Sylvia’s face. Could she be the one?

"Just started a few months ago. It wasn't intentional at first but then I had to go on with the flow." She revealed.

It wasn't intentional at first? She made me laugh; I sighed yet again; she was lying to them, and they were all listening.

"Did he ever instigate you to do whatever you did to your best friend?"

"Yes, he did. He forced himself on me at first,t but after many apologies, we came to terms, and I realized I was slowly falling for him. I couldn’t control my emotions." She revealed, her eyes downwards.

Betrayal.

"What do you recall about the event?" He further asked.

"She had cursed on and on. And she threatened us."

I turned my gaze at her. Threats? As far as I recall I cursed them out of pain. I remember I didn’t threaten them, what is she saying?

"Interesting." The man said, his hands jotting down some content in his book. " What kind of threat was that?"

"She threatened she would be back for us. She said she wouldn’t back down easily; I thought she was joking, but because she was a little bit violent during our college era, I left Damon and went to my house; he told me he’d be okay and he told me I shouldn’t worry, he said..." She started crying loudly; the people around were looking at me and murmuring, pointing fingers at me.

My eyes had turned red, and my tears started to flow out, too; the judge called for order, and the court was silent again. This isn’t fair, I had no idea what to do, but I can hope when I’m called out for words, I’ll understand.

The prosecutor turned towards the judge after getting the information he wanted. "That would be all for now. Your honor, my witness needs to calm her mind." He said with a bow and took his seat as Sylvia stood up going back to her seat.

In the courtroom, it was said that the questioning of a defendant is usually conducted by the prosecutor, and is known as direct examination or cross-examination.

I knew at that moment that I could be proven guilty because of the sneers the opposite prosecutor gave me.

There was a loud bang and brief silence eloped the air. "Miss Harlow, Do you plead guilty or not guilty?" The jury asked me.

I gulped down my saliva before spilling. "I plead not guilty," I replied shortly and took my seat.

The prosecutor stood up and now In Front of the jury.

"Permit me to invite my defendant for questioning and answer." He said.

"Permission granted." I can’t imagine my face right now because it was weird, I feel bland and scared.

He turned his face towards me and smirked. "Can you please describe your whereabouts on the 23rd of September 2025 as a whole?" He asked, I went silent for a while and decided to be fluent with my words. If not, he would hold my stuttering as something else.

"At first, I was out because we argued any normal couple would. I had called my ex-best friend that day, but she didn't pick up that call. I went to my favorite spot which was the beach side. I had to clear my mind off before getting back home." I replied and he narrowed his eyes towards me like he was suspicious of something.

"What argument?" He asked.

“And what was your relationship with the victim?" He questioned, his hands playing with his pen. I could tell he was playing me, and that hurt also; I was nearly on the verge of breaking down.

I folded my hands in anger. "He was my husband. And it's between couples."

"He terminated your pregnancy?" The question struck me and I stared up at him in shock.

"Shocked that I found out? Ms Harlow, it would be better to be out of it now and stop hiding things here." He instructed.

"Yes, I learned that I had a miscarriage after a sharp pain. I had confronted him that morning and he didn't even feel remorseful at all. I was angry and went out to clear my head."

"Suspicious! You probably could have thought of a scheme to kill him once you're back, and yet you found another sight to behold, which made you more Angerer." He added and I sighed.

He was now putting words in for me, it was clear what he was trying to do, ”I didn't do or had thought of anything you just said now."

"You had killed him when you got back!" He pointed out and I hissed.

"Are prosecutors like this? Forcing words into the defendant's mouth? Or yours is just different!" I looked into their eyes with tears. The judge suspended him for that, and he apologized before asking further questions.

"Okay then. Can you explain your involvement in the incidents in question?"

"Yes, I had been shattered and heartbroken two times that day, and all I ever wanted was to clear off my mind. I came back that morning to pack out of his house and send a divorce document later. I walked in to see the pool of blood, and since I had no idea, the body was what made me fall, which made my clothes soaked in blood" I retorted truthfully.

“I was trying to hold his breath as I held the knife and his bleeding blood; I didn’t think straight that he could be dead; all on my mind was just to save him.”

"Did you commit the crime? Can you explain any inconsistencies in your previous statements? Can you prove you aren't the killer?” Wait, everything I just said, doesn’t it ring a bell?