Chapter 345
Avery prepared a scrumptious lunch for Nina.
Once the two of them were done eating, Avery did the dishes before cleaning up the kitchen.
Then, she went to the nearby market to buy enough groceries to fill up the refrigerator. It was winter, so
it was inconvenient for Nina to head out. Thus, Avery kept the meat and the vegetables in the fridge
properly so that it was more convenient for Nina to cook in the future.
Nina was moved by Avery''s careful consideration.
“We''re about to have the holidays soon, so there''s no need for you to go to thepany for now. I''ll
talk to Cayden about this and have him apply for annual leave for you,” Avery said to Nina before she
left.
However, Nina shook her head. “I''ve been resting for a long time now. Please help me apply for leave
until the new yeares. Once the holidays are over, I''ll be going to the office to work. You know how
I''m not one to sit on my hands. If I stay at home for too long, I''d end up overthinking instead.”
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Knowing that she would not be able to change her mind, Avery agreed to it. “We''ll talk about this after
New Year then. Rest well at home and call me if there''s anything. I''m always avable.”
After Avery left, Nina fell into deep thought.
Since she had made up her mind to give birth to the baby, she would have to think about the kind of life
she was going to lead from now on seriously.
After all, her future no longer was hers alone—a new life was going to join her. She had to n well for
the baby.
The next day, the world was still nketed by ayer of silvery white despite the appearance of the
sun.
Rays of sunlight filtered through the shades of the trees outside Ackleton''s court.
Unlike the bright day, Avery was feeling grim.
It was time for Henrietta and Mna to receive a sentence.
Avery''s face was devoid of any expression.
In the meantime, Cayden was sitting beside Avery in the first row of the spectator seat. Like her, he had
a solemn look on his face. The menacing aura he exuded made it hard for others to ignore his
presence.
Both Henrietta and Mna were in prison uniforms, and they were standing in the dock, looking
knackered.
Due to her many days of imprisonment, the charming Henrietta looked like she had aged ten years.
There were even strands of white hair by the sides of her head, and her usually-straight back was
hunched.
On the other hand, Mna''s long hair had been cut short, and it was messy. She looked pale, and there
were eyebags under her eyes. It seemed like she had lost much weight, and even herrge eyes were
sunken in.
It looked like they did not have a good time in prison.
Yet, Avery felt no pity for them.
They brought this upon themselves. If they didn''t kill my father, they wouldn''t have ended up like this.
Nevertheless, mes of fury manifested in the mother-and-daughter duo when they saw Avery. They
were ring daggers of hatred at her, and if not for the guards watching over them, they would have
darted toward Avery to skin her alive.
Right then, Weston uttered, “The defendants Henrietta Landry and Mna Rumpley had verbally
agitated Leonardo Rumpley despite knowing his poor health. Their actions were immoral and vited
thew. Moreover, even after realizing something amiss about Mr. Rumpley''s condition, they chose to
do nothing instead of calling for the doctor. Their verbal agitation triggered Mr. Rumpley''s ill condition
and undeniably caused his death. Therefore, they have to bear full responsibility for Mr. Rumpley''s
death. They have to be punished severely for this.”
“Objection!” said Xenia, who was dressed in a set of dark formalwear and had her hair done up. Her
expression was cold as she continued, “Leonardo Rumpley was already diagnosed with cancer. Even
without my defendants'' verbal agitation, he did not have long to live. Hence, why should we pin all the
me on my defendants? Furthermore, they spoke nothing but the truth to Mr. Rumpley. He was
simply too mentally fragile to withstand the truth. Even if my defendants have to bear a certain amount
of legal responsibility for his death, it should not be the full responsibility. Subjectively speaking, they
had made a mistake, but they did not have the intention of speeding up his inevitable death. What
happened was an argument that was a little too intense. At most, they should be punished ording to
tortw.”
Weston turned to look at Xenia as his heart ached.
He could not believe that the prideful woman of the past had ended up falling from grace.
Her hatred for him and her desire to embarrass him made her intervene in every case he took up. It did
not matter even if her defendants were immoral.
This time, she even volunteered to work as Henrietta and Mna''s defense attorney just so that she
could have the chance to defeat him.
Weston witnessed Xenia''s growth through several court cases.
It seemed like she had vastly improved. Now, she was more capable and cunning, and she was
exceptionally good at exploiting loopholes in the legal system. There were a few times when he nearly
lost to her, and if not for his sophistry, he would have been defeated.
To make it up for her, he intentionally went easier on her so that she could win him.
However, Cayden''s woman, Avery, was involved in the case he was currently working on. Hence, he
could not go easy on Xenia anymore.
“Ms. Somner, your defendants knew the severity of Leonardo''s condition and how likely he might die
from the aggravation of his condition. Yet, they continued to verbally assault him. The surveince
cameras have caught them red-handed in their evil acts, and I''m certain that isn''t something you can
deny, right? Without a doubt, the deliberation of their action makes this case a criminal act. What
they''ve done is akin to intentional homicide, and they have to be legally held responsible for that!”
Weston refuted.
The two of them were engaged in a fierce verbal battle in the court.
Both of them were well-knownwyers, and in no time, their battle became intense.
Avery''s heart was in her throat, and she was so nervous that she could barely breathe.
I never thought that the defense attorney had a silver tongue. I''m scared that Weston will fail. I''ll never
be able to ept it if Henrietta and Mna end up receiving a light sentence.
Perhaps Cayden sensed Avery''s anxiousness, for he wrapped his hand around Avery''s hand and
whispered a reassurance. “Don''t worry. Weston will surely emerge as the victor.”
He trusted Weston''s ability.
Although Xenia was a crafty and capable woman, she was still not as good as Weston.
Indeed, Weston did not let them down.
Near the end, the judge dered, “Defendants Henrietta Landry and Mna Rumpley, you knew that
Leonardo Rumpley was gravely ill, but you still aggravated his condition verbally and caused his death.
The evidence against you is sufficient to show that the defendants acted knowingly and intentionally.
Therefore, the defendants are found guilty of intentional homicide and will be serving in prison for ten
years. You will also receive a fine of four hundred and fifty thousand. If you dissatisfied with the order,
you can file an appeal through this court or directly to the Court of Appeals for Ackleton within ten days
from the second day of receiving the judgment.”
Upon hearing her heavy sentence, Mna, who had been quiet until then, abruptly lunged toward Avery
like a mad woman. s, the guards stopped her.
Nevertheless, Mna shrieked, “Avery, you b*tch! This was all your fault! If you didn''t be a
surrogate, Leonardo''s condition wouldn''t have been aggravated! I''m not going to let you off the hook!
I''m going to appeal! I will!”