Chapter 173
Rain had a busy Monday. Right now she stood at the front of the courtroom to deliver her her closing argument. The trial of the five men from the Savage Skulls, accused of the brutal gang rape of Liza Torres, had been long and gruelling, but today, justice would finally be served.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the court,” Rain began, her eyes scanning the room, making sure her words struck deeply. “The evidence in this case is irrefutable. The brutality inflicted on Liza Torres, a young woman whose only crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time, is beyond comprehension. These men acted without remorse, without hesitation, and with a complete disregard for human life and dignity p>
Rain’s eyes flickered toward the five perpetrators, sitting emotionless in their seats, their gang tattoos stark against their skin. “These men have shown no remorse for their actions. They have not once acknowledged the trauma they’ve caused, the life they’ve shattered. They treated Liza as nothing more than a plaything for their sick and twisted desires, and now they must face the consequences p>
She took a deep breath, her voice growing stronger. “Liza Torres will never be the same again. The physical wounds will heal, but the emotional scars will last a lifetime. For her, and for the countless other victims who have suffered at the hands of those who think they are above the law, I ask this court to show no leniency. The maximum penalty must be enforced. Anything less would be a mockery of justice p>
Rain paused, allowing the weight of her words to settle over the courtroom. “These men took everything from her. They must be held accountable for their actions, not just to give Liza some semblance of closure, but to send a message to others like them: violence, cruelty, and violation will not be tolerated p>
Sebastian Lane sat at the bench, his expression solemn. He had presided over many cases, but even he couldn’t hide the disgust and anger at the nature of this crime. After a brief silence, he straightened and addressed the court.
“In light of the overwhelming evidence presented and the severity of the crime committed, I have no hesitation in delivering the maximum sentence under the law,” Sebastian declared, his voice resolute. “The defendants will each serve life in prison without the possibility of parole. Let this be a clear message to those who seek to harm others—justice will prevail p>
Rain felt a wave of relief, but it was tempered by the knowledge that no punishment could ever truly erase the pain Liza endured. As she gathered her papers, she glanced over at Liza, sitting in the gallery with her family, tears of quiet relief streaming down her face.
As everyone in the room began to leave, Liza rushed to Rain and hugged her tightly. “Thank you. Thank you so much,” she sobbed, her parents standing beside her, tears streaming down their faces as they expressed their gratitude.
Rain fought to compose herself, determined not to cry. She gently pushed Liza back and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Now it’s time for you to gather your strength and keep moving forward. It might not be easy, but remember, you can take things slow—one step at a time. What matters most is not letting this experience hold you back from living life on your own terms p>
Liza nodded, her eyes filled with determination. Rain continued, “The best revenge against every hardship life throws at you is to strive for a good life. Don’t let this define you; let it empower you p>
They bid farewell to each other and Rain felt a wave of relief and happiness wash over her as she and Marlon walked back to the prosecution office.
“I’m glad this case concluded earlier than I expected. You’re incredibly capable and sharp, Prosecutor Clayton!” Marlon praised, a warm smile spreading across his face. Rain chuckled, patting Marlon on the shoulder. “You did an excellent job too, Marlon. Thank you so much p>
Marlon blushed at her compliment and replied timidly, “I’m just doing my job! If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call me p>
Rain nodded, her smile brightening. “I appreciate that. It’s great to have you on my side p>
As soon as Rain and Marlon stepped inside their office, they were met with enthusiastic congratulations.
“Wow! First trial and it’s a win! Congratulations, Prosecutor Lane! Here’s to many more victories in the future!” Jane exclaimed, her excitement infectious.
“Congrats!” Matt chimed in, grinning widely. Rain smiled at her colleagues, feeling the warmth of their support.
Just then, Henry emerged from his office, eyebrows raised in mock disapproval. “How come you’re all not this cheerful for every trial I win, huh?” he teased, crossing his arms playfully.
The room erupted in laughter, and Rain couldn’t help but join in.
“Alright, enough with the loud voices! You all need to get back to work. This win doesn’t mean anything when we have a mountain of cases still piling up on our desks,” Henry said, his tone serious. Rain shrugged at the group before turning to head back into her private office.
Just as she thought she’d finally have a moment of privacy—planning to message Alexander with her good news—she heard a knock on her door.
Peeking in, Henry asked, “Can I have a word with you p>
Rain nodded as Henry entered her office and took a seat across from her desk. He handed her a file, his expression determined.
“Can we swap again?” Henry asked, cutting straight to the point. “You take this case, and I’ll handle the Obsidian Order case p>
Rain raised an eyebrow, thinking, ’This man is relentless about getting his hands on the Obsidian Order case p>
She glanced at the file before meeting his gaze, her tone unwavering. “I’ve told you before, Henry. You can take any case you want, but not the Obsidian Order case p>
Henry leaned forward, frustration creeping into his voice. “Why are you so set on handling that case when you’re not even making any progress on it? You’re not actively working on it p>
“And besides,” he added, his tone turning condescending, “it’s too complex for a rookie like you to handle p>
Rain’s eyes narrowed slightly as she leaned back in her chair. “Tell me one good reason why I should consider handing the case over to you p>
Henry smirked, sensing a challenge. “Because I have more experience dealing with cases of this magnitude. You’re still new here, and the Obsidian Order is dangerous territory. You don’t want to mess this up, especially since you’re not even making progress p>
Rain leaned forward, her expression firm. “Experience doesn’t mean you’re the right person for the job, Henry. If anything, the fact that you’re so eager to take over makes me even more determined to keep it p>
Henry’s smirk faltered, but he quickly masked it. Rain added, “I don’t hand off cases because they’re tough. I handle them because they matter p>