Chapter 318


    Thewyer told Sonia that she could appeal the court’s decision, but there would be no point since


    the judges would still maintain their initial adjudication. “I’m so mad!” Charles mmed his fist


    against the seat. Carl didn’t say much and simply lowered his head as if he was thinking about


    something.


    Sonia watched as Tina was brought out of the courtroom, Titus and Julia following behind her. Titus


    and Julia seemed to notice Sonia’s gaze as they both turned around to sh her looks of victory.


    Julia, in particr, looked as if she wanted to walk right up to Sonia’s face just tough at her.


    In the past few days, Julia had been running around seeking help since she had assumed that her


    daughter would have to go to jail. She had suffered countless rejections and eye-rolls. Just an hour


    ago, Sonia and Toby had looked down upon her as if she were nothing but trash. She was furious


    whenever she thought about it. However, she felt much better after the court case was over. It was


    Sonia’s turn to get angry then. At that thought, Julia gave Tina a fond stroke on the head before she


    let out a heartyugh while looking in Sonia’s direction.


    Sonia clenched her fists and gave Julia a cold re before she shifted her gaze to Tina. Tina’s head


    was hung low, and Sonia couldn’t see her expression. However, Sonia guessed that Tina was


    probably celebrating silently.


    After the Gray Family left, Sonia stayed back as she still had to attend William’s trial. His charge


    was more serious than Tina’s charge of attempted harm toward Sonia. After all, Sonia never got


    hurt as a result of Tina’s attempts to harm her. William’s case was different since he had directly


    sshed acid on Sonia, and he ended up receiving a three-year sentence. The rest of theizens


    who had sent wreaths and knives received their relevant punishments as well—some were arrested


    while others received milder punishments.


    On the other hand, the marketing ounts and media outlets were in greater trouble as they had


    done more than just to defame Sonia. The oues of their cases were still unknown as they had


    committed other crimes as well. Most of them had to deal with charges that were independent of


    Sonia’s case. Sonia didn’t bother much about these people because it was good enough for her to


    know that they would eventually face the consequences that they deserved.


    As she walked out of the court, she raised her head to look at the sky. It was a cloudy day, and it


    seemed like it was about to rain. Charles looked up as well. “I often hear people saying that the


    skies look especially clear after they win a court case. We won, yet...” he muttered in a sarcastic


    tone.


    “Are you okay, Sonia?” Carl gazed at Sonia with concern in his eyes. Sonia forced a smile. “I’m fine.


    The oue might not have been what I hoped for, but I’m sure Tina won’t dare to do anything else


    for now. At least she’ll have to live in the shadows for the uing days. I guess the results aren’t


    that bad.”


    Both Charles and Carl exchanged nces. They could tell that Sonia was forcing herself to feel


    better, but they didn’t expose her act. “Let’s forget about the celebration we were supposed to have


    tonight,” Charles said after a few seconds of silence. Carl nodded without protesting.


    Sonia was about to insist on proceeding with the celebration, but she couldn’t seem to utter the


    words in the end. I thought that I wouldn’t be too bothered by the results, but it seems like it has


    impacted me quite a bit. If I didn’t care about the trial’s oue, I would have had the mood to go


    on with our celebration, right?


    Three of them walked to the car park in silence. A group of reporters rushed toward them once they


    arrived at their car. “Miss Reed, what are your thoughts on the judge’s decision for Tina’s case?”


    one asked.


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    “Yeah, Miss Reed. Let us know if you’re satisfied or not!” another asked.


    Sonia simply stared at the ground with an icy look on her face andpletely ignored the reporters.


    Carl and Charles were furious, and they shooed the reporters away while shielding Sonia and


    helping her get in the car. It took them a great deal of effort to finally free themselves from the


    swarm of reporters. Once they got in


    the car, they sped out of the area.


    On the way back, Charles saw reporters chasing after them in the rearview mirror. He smacked his


    palm against the steering wheel angrily. “F*ck! These reporters are like pests! They always touch on


    the most sensitive topics!” he grunted.


    “Alright. That’s enough,” Carl muttered in a deep voice when he saw the dejected woman sitting


    with her eyes closed in the back seat. Charles noticed how he might have said the wrong words,


    and he kept his mouth sealed after stealing a nce at Sonia. The atmosphere in the car seemed


    especially gloomy after the three of them stopped talking.


    Meanwhile, Toby stepped out of the meeting room and sent his coborating partners off after their


    meeting at Fuller Group. As Toby strode toward his office, he saw Tom waiting for him outside. Tom


    wore a rather confused expression on his face as he spoke. “Tina’s trial is over, President Fuller.”


    “How many years did she get?” Toby’s eyes lit up upon hearing Tom’s words.


    “She got a five-year probation.” Tom pushed his sses up his nose as he spoke in a rather


    disappointed tone.


    Toby was about to let himself into the office, but he spun around immediately after Tom finished


    speaking. “What did you just say? Five-year probation?!”


    “Yes. Tina didn’t cause any direct harm to Miss Reed and her own injuries are rather serious, so the


    court decided to put her on probation. She also has to pay a sum of one million for destroying Miss


    Reed’s reputation, and another 5 million for Paradigm Co.’s losses,” Tom replied.


    Toby was so furious, all he could do wasugh. “I can’t believe she got off with a five-year probation


    and 6 million!” “There’s nothing that can be done—it’s just the way our country works. I contacted


    our legal department after watching the live stream, and they told me the same thing.” Tom sighed.


    Toby pursed his lips. After a while, he narrowed his eyes dangerously. “I want you to watch Tina


    closely. We can find a chance to set up a trap for Tina.” Since Tina didn’t get prosecuted this time,


    I’ll find a way to do something that’ll send her to jail.


    Tom had been working with Toby for years, and he quickly understood what his boss meant. His


    sses glowed as they reflected the light above. “Are you trying to get Tina to do something illegal


    during her probation period?”


    “That’s right.” Toby nodded.


    Tom’s eyes lit up. "I got it. I’ll find a chance toy a trap for her.”


    “Okay. You can leave now,” Toby uttered as he gestured for Tom to go. After Tom left, Toby pulled


    his phone out and dialed Sonia’s number. He knew that Sonia wanted Tina to be sentenced to jail,


    and he was certain that Sonia would be extremely disappointed with the trial’s oue.


    Sonia picked the call up soon after it began ringing. “Is anything the matter, President Fuller?” Her


    voice sounded rather weak. She pressed her phone against her shoulder as she jabbed the


    password for her condominium’s entrance. However, she kept pressing the wrongbination as


    she wasn’t in the right headspace. She got more frustrated after a few wrong tries.


    Toby’s voice softened when he heard her frustration on the other end of the line. “I heard about the


    court’s decision.”


    “Oh. Are you calling tough at me?” Sonia bent forward and tried to focus on punching the


    numbers on the keypad. She finally got it right. Opening the door, she kicked her shoes off without


    putting on her indoor slippers. She walked barefoot into her living hall, then threw herself onto the


    couch—she was too tired to do anything else.


    On the other end of the call, Toby knitted his eyebrows together after hearing what she said. “What?


    Why would you think I’m calling tough at you?”


    “What else could it be? Are you calling to show your concern?” Sonia scoffed.


    “Yes. I know you must be in a bad mood now, so


    —" Toby replied.


    “Stop! You can stop now.” Sonia stared at the ceiling listlessly. “I don’t need you to care. I’m way


    past that now.” In the past, he had never been around when she needed him the most. Even if he


    was present, he simply pretended not to realize her needs. She no longer needed him at this point.


    Furthermore, she had tons of people that cared for her then. Does it matter if he cares for me?


    Toby felt his chest tightening upon hearing her words. He felt like he was suffocating. His fingers


    curled around his phone as guilt filled his eyes. “I’m sorry, Sonia. I—”


    “You don’t need to be sorry. It’s all over now. Do you need anything else? If that’s all you wanted to


    say, then I’ll end the call now.” Sonia massaged her temples as her head started to hurt. For some


    reason, her head felt extremely heavy. She pressed her palm against her forehead, but she didn’t


    have a fever.