Chapter 155: The Day Of Reckoning (2)

The wait didn’t last much longer.

Approximately thirty minutes after Ethan and his family had settled in the waiting area, a court attendant approached them with a file in his hand.

"Are you here for the case involving Cassie?" He asked, glancing between them.

Ethan stood up. "Yes, that’s right."

"The courtroom is ready. Please follow me."

Ethan nodded and turned toward Evelyn and Nora. "Come on. It’s time."

Evelyn rose from her seat, taking Nora’s hand as they followed the attendant down the corridor. Ethan walked beside them, his expression calm, although his eyes occasionally wandered toward the doors they were approaching.

Eventually, the attendant stopped in front of a courtroom and opened the door for them.

The room was considerably larger than Ethan had expected. Wooden benches occupied the area reserved for visitors, while two separate tables stood toward the front, facing an elevated platform where the judge’s bench was located. Several people were already inside, including a few lawyers dressed in formal black attire.

The attendant directed them toward the seats reserved for witnesses and members of the public. Ethan helped Evelyn and Nora settle down before taking the seat beside them.

"Is everything okay?" He whispered, noticing Evelyn’s slightly tense expression.

She nodded, although her fingers remained intertwined with Nora’s. "I’m fine."

Ethan gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before looking toward the front.

A few minutes later, the courtroom doors opened again. A court officer entered and announced the arrival of the presiding judge.

"All rise!"

Everyone immediately stood.

A middle-aged man wearing judicial robes walked in and took his place behind the elevated bench. He arranged a few documents before looking across the courtroom.

"Please be seated."

The occupants settled down, and the court clerk proceeded to announce the case scheduled for the morning.

The prosecutor rose from his seat, introducing himself and confirming the matter before the court. Cassie’s defence counsel did the same from the opposite table.

The judge glanced through the file before speaking. "Let the defendant be brought forward."

A side door opened, and two police officers escorted Cassie into the courtroom.

Her hands were restrained as she entered, and her expression was noticeably different from the one Ethan remembered. She looked thinner, with dark circles beneath her eyes. Her hair was untidy, and the moment she noticed the people seated in the gallery, her gaze stopped.

Evelyn, then Nora.

For a brief moment, Cassie’s expression changed. She quickly lowered her eyes, allowing the officers to lead her toward the designated area in front of the judge’s bench. After the restraints were removed under the court officer’s supervision, she stood beside her lawyer.

Evelyn’s fingers tightened around Nora’s hand.

Seeing Cassie again brought back memories she would have preferred to leave behind. Anger, pain, and sadness seemed to rise together, leaving an unpleasant heaviness in her chest. She remembered the fear she had felt when Nora was struggling to breathe, the frantic journey to get medical help, and the helplessness of watching her daughter fight for every breath.

Her gaze remained fixed on the woman standing before the court.

Beside her, Nora appeared considerably calmer. She watched Cassie without saying anything, and the faintest victorious smile touched her lips.

Ethan noticed the expression but didn’t comment. He simply rested a hand on Nora’s shoulder.

The judge looked toward the defendant. "State your name for the record."

Cassie answered quietly.

"You have been charged with deliberately exposing a minor to a substance that triggered a severe asthma attack, thereby endangering her life. Do you understand the charge?"

Cassie swallowed. "Yes, Your Honour."

"How do you plead?"

"Not guilty, Your Honour."

Her lawyer placed a hand lightly on the table, while Cassie lowered her gaze.

The judge nodded before turning toward the prosecutor. "Proceed."

The prosecutor stood and approached the front of the courtroom.

"Your Honour, the prosecution intends to establish that the defendant knowingly gave the minor, Nora Hale, food containing an ingredient to which she was allergic, despite being aware of the child’s medical condition. More importantly, we intend to demonstrate that the act was deliberate rather than accidental."

Cassie’s lawyer rose briefly, indicating that the defence disputed the allegation. The judge acknowledged the response and instructed the prosecution to proceed with its evidence.

The prosecutor began by presenting the relevant medical records and explaining the circumstances surrounding Nora’s asthma attack. He then called Ethan Hale to the witness stand.

Ethan stood, straightened his jacket, and walked toward the designated area.

After taking the required oath to tell the truth, he faced the prosecutor.

"Mr. Hale, could you explain your relationship with the minor?"

"She’s my daughter," Ethan answered calmly.

The prosecutor nodded. "And were you present when the incident involving the defendant occurred?"

"Not when she first gave Nora the snacks. However, I became involved shortly afterward, when I discovered what had happened."

He proceeded to explain how Nora had been given the snacks, how her condition deteriorated, and how she had required urgent medical attention. He also described the circumstances surrounding his subsequent conversation with Cassie.

The prosecutor listened carefully before asking, "Did the defendant ever admit to you that she had deliberately given your daughter those snacks?"

"Yes."

"Could you explain how that happened?"

Ethan briefly glanced toward Cassie before returning his attention to the prosecutor.

"A while ago, I confronted her about what she had done. During our conversation, she admitted that she knew about Nora’s allergy and had deliberately given her the snacks anyway. I recorded that conversation."

The prosecutor held up a document containing information about the recording. "Do you recognize this recording?"

"I do."

"How was it obtained?"

"I recorded my conversation with the defendant myself. I have the original file, and I can identify the voices in it."

The prosecutor then asked for permission to present the recording. After the necessary questions about its origin and authenticity, the defence was given an opportunity to raise any objection. Cassie’s lawyer examined the information before confirming that he had no specific objection to its admission at that stage.

The judge reviewed the application and allowed the recording to be played.

A court officer prepared the audio equipment, and the courtroom gradually fell silent.

Ethan’s voice came through the speakers first, followed by Cassie’s.

The recording captured their conversation clearly. Although some of the words were difficult to distinguish, the important parts were unmistakable. Cassie admitted that she had known about Nora’s condition and had given her the snacks intentionally.

A faint murmur passed through the courtroom.

Evelyn lowered her eyes, her lips pressed together. Hearing the conversation again was unpleasant, but she remained still.

Nora, on the other hand, continued watching Cassie.

When the recording ended, the prosecutor returned to his seat. The judge looked through the documents before addressing the defence.

"Does the defence dispute the authenticity of this recording?"

Cassie’s lawyer stood. "Your Honour, we acknowledge that the voice resembles that of my client. However, we would like the opportunity to address the context of the conversation."

"That opportunity will be given," The judge replied. "Proceed with your questions."

The prosecutor then called Nora as a witness.

Ethan glanced at his daughter.

"Take your time, sweetheart," He whispered as she stood.

Nora nodded and walked toward the witness area.

The court officer explained the process to her in simple terms, ensuring she understood that she was expected to tell the truth. The judge also addressed her directly, making it clear that she could ask for a question to be repeated if she didn’t understand it.

Once she was settled, the prosecutor approached.

"Nora, do you know the defendant?"

"Yes," Nora answered.

"Can you tell the court how you know her?"

"She’s my mom’s friend and she gave me some snacks." She replied confidently.

"Did you ask her to give you those snacks?"

Nora shook her head. "No. She just came to my mom’s shop and gave them to me."

The prosecutor nodded. "Did you know what was inside them?"

"No."

"Did you eat them?"

"Yes."

"And what happened afterward?"

Nora hesitated briefly before answering. "I started having trouble breathing. My chest hurt, and I couldn’t breathe properly."

The prosecutor allowed a moment of silence before asking his next question.

"Had you ever told the defendant that you had asthma or an allergy?"

"I didn’t need to. My mom did."

The defence lawyer stood and approached the witness area. He asked Nora a few questions about the snacks, whether she had checked their ingredients, and whether she remembered exactly what Cassie had said when giving them to her.

Nora answered what she could. Whenever she wasn’t certain, she said so rather than guessing.

After a few more questions, the defence counsel returned to his seat.

The prosecutor thanked Nora, and she was allowed to return to her parents.

Ethan gently patted her shoulder as she sat down.

"Well done," He whispered.

Nora gave him a small smile before looking toward the front again.

The judge reviewed the evidence presented so far. Between the medical records, Ethan’s testimony, Nora’s account, and the recording, the prosecution had established a substantial portion of its case.

However, the judge wasn’t ready to conclude the proceedings yet.

He turned toward Cassie.

"Before we proceed further, the defendant will be given an opportunity to respond to the allegations and the evidence presented against her."

Cassie swallowed.

Her lawyer leaned toward her, whispering something Ethan couldn’t hear.

The woman nodded weakly before raising her head.

And for the first time since entering the courtroom, she looked directly at Evelyn.