The Judge's Verdict

My grandfather, Tanner Kane, valued loyalty above all else. When his adopted daughter, Alanna Meyer, was sentenced to death for murder, he sent my mother, Florence Kane, to her death. All to preserve the bloodline of his late childhood friend. Alanna took my mother's name, married, and lived a privileged life free from hardship. Meanwhile, my mother died carrying a crime she never committed. My father, Graham Hart, and I changed our names and wandered from place to place. For years, I was mocked as a motherless child. Forty years later, after enduring humiliation and dedicating myself to my studies, I became a judge in Arbor Falls. Today, I am presiding over a controversial campus murder case in which the victim fell to her death from a building. There were no surveillance cameras. Only two girls were present, and each insists the other is the killer. One of them, Nova, comes from a poor family. Her parents are divorced, and she associates with local delinquents. She is known throughout the school as a feared bully. The other one, Scarlett, comes from a wealthy family. Her parents have a loving marriage, and she excels academically. Her grandmother is a beautiful and kind-hearted artist. Her great-grandfather spent his entire life doing charity work and was recognized as a nationally renowned philanthropist. Everyone believes she is a good girl who would never lie, so Nova the bully must be the killer. However, when I looked at the name listed under Scarlett's grandmother, I saw my mother's name: Florence Kane. Without a second thought, I turned to the person beside me and said, "Reject her request for acquittal." Chapter 1 The law clerk looked up in surprise, as if he'd misheard me. "Reject it?" "Yes." I flipped through the case file one more time before giving a slight nod. Around the office, several colleagues poked their heads over curiously. "You really think she's the killer?" "Scarlett Kane comes from a wealthy family. Her parents have a loving marriage, her grades have always ranked at the top of her class, and she's won more awards than anyone can count." "She and the victim, Madison Hale, were inseparable best friends. I honestly can't think of a single reason she'd want to kill her." "On the other hand, there's Nova Spears. Everyone at school calls her a bully. Her parents are divorced, and she was raised by her father alone. He failed to keep a close eye on her. Not only are her grades consistently at the bottom of the class, but she's constantly getting into fights with local delinquents and bullying other students." "And based on the evidence we have so far, Nova had a serious conflict with Madison before her death. In front of multiple classmates, she even threatened to kill her." "No matter how you look at it, it seems obvious. Nova arranged to meet Madison on the roof of the abandoned building to settle their feud. Scarlett found out and rushed over to stop them, but she arrived too late. Not only was she unable to save her friend, she got dragged into this whole mess." That final conclusion was, in fact, exactly what Scarlett had claimed in her testimony. Her statement was clear and logically structured. She carefully explained the conflict between Madison and Nova, provided the text messages arranging the confrontation, and claimed that during an argument, Nova accidentally pushed Madison off the roof. Everything fit together perfectly. At first glance, the story was airtight. Nova's testimony, however, was a mess. Other than repeatedly insisting, "I saw Scarlett push Madison off the roof with my own eyes," nearly every answer she gave was "I don't know." She didn't know why Madison had asked her to meet on the rooftop or why Scarlett would want to kill Madison. Her statements were inconsistent. She also had prior records for theft and fighting, and she'd been caught lying before. Because of that, everyone reached the same conclusion: if one of the two girls was the killer, it couldn't possibly be Scarlett. I shook my head. "So because Nova comes from a single-parent household, while Scarlett grew up in a happy family, you've already decided she's incapable of murder? I don't agree." Chapter 2 My colleague, Zach Curtis, let out a sigh before offering a carefully worded warning. "Judge Hart, you probably don't know what kind of family Scarlett comes from. "Her great-grandfather spent his entire life doing charity work. He was featured on Time's magazine, and the respect he's earned would be carried through multiple generations. "Her grandmother is beautiful, kind, and a true artist. She's gracious and refined, never makes enemies, but she's no pushover either. "And her mother is a well-known entrepreneur with an impressive fortune and extensive connections in both business and politics. "If you let your personal bias cloud your judgment and make the wrong decision, you'll hurt not just one child, but an entire family known for its integrity and sterling reputation. "You should think this through carefully. Don't provoke public outrage." I lowered my gaze to the photographs in the case file. Every member of the family looked remarkably well-preserved, dressed in stylish clothes that made them seem decades younger than their actual ages. Especially Scarlett's grandmother, the woman who had stolen my mother's identity. Though she was clearly at least sixty years old, her hair remained thick, glossy, and jet-black. Her face looked closer to forty than sixty, and she still carried herself with effortless elegance. My mother, on the other hand, had gone completely white-haired the night before her execution. She had been in the prime of her life, yet grief had carved deep lines across her face. The public mocked her relentlessly. They claimed she had turned white from fear after realizing she was about to die. They hurled every cruel insult imaginable at her. But only my father and I knew the truth. My mother wasn't afraid. She was devastated that her own father had chosen to send his biological daughter to her execution in order to save an adopted daughter who shared none of his blood. Even until her final breath, she never understood why. I'd spent forty years trying to understand it myself, and I still couldn't. But that no longer mattered. Clearing my mother's name and bringing the guilty to justice mattered. I'd waited forty years for that day, and at long last, it had arrived. I closed the file. Around me, my colleagues continued praising the family, insisting they all looked like inherently good people. I let out a cold laugh. "All I see are faces hiding behind a mask of virtue." The room instantly fell silent. Zach looked at me with obvious frustration. "Judge Hart, stop being so stubborn. Scarlett's family isn't one you can afford to offend. "If she's guilty, that's one thing. But if she's innocent, can you really bear the consequences of being condemned by the entire country?" I rose to my feet and met his gaze. "As a judge, my job is to weigh evidence, not family backgrounds. "If anyone disagrees with my ruling, they're welcome to file a formal complaint with the appropriate oversight authorities after the case is concluded. "But at this moment, I will not approve her acquittal." My words rang through the room, leaving no room for further argument. That evening, I returned home. As soon as I reached my apartment building, I spotted a luxury car parked out front. After the driver got out, he humbly opened the door, and two elegantly dressed women appeared before me. They were Scarlett's grandmother and her mother, Vanessa. The woman, who called herself Florence Kane, approached me with a warm smile, dressed in a simple silk shift. "Good evening, Judge Hart. My name is Florence Kane. I'm Scarlett's grandmother." No. That wasn't her name. Florence Kane was my mother's name. This woman was nothing more than the orphaned daughter of Grandpa's late childhood friend, Victor Meyer. Grandpa had always valued loyalty above everything else. If Victor needed help, Grandpa would hand over the family's last scrap of food without hesitation. How could Grandpa possibly turn his back on the poor orphan Victor had left behind? Chapter 3 Back then, despite Grandma's objections, Grandpa insisted on bringing Alanna home and raising her as his adopted daughter. Grandma fought with him over it time and time again. The stress eventually made her seriously ill, and before long, she passed away. Even then, Grandpa never reflected on his choices. He remained convinced that a girl who had lost both parents was more deserving of sympathy than his own daughter, who had only lost her mother. Alanna received better clothes, better food, and a better life than his biological child ever did. Alanna attended expensive private schools, while my mother wasn't even allowed to finish high school. She was forced to drop out and support herself while she was still young. My mother resented Grandpa, so she never told him about meeting my father, marrying him, or having me. Despite everything, she still longed for her father's love. Then one day, Grandpa sent her a letter claiming he was gravely ill and wanted to see her one last time before he died. Worried sick, she rushed to his side. When she returned, she was under arrest. When my father and I were finally allowed to see her, her hair had turned completely white overnight. She sat there repeating the same questions over and over. "Wasn't I your daughter?" "What did I do wrong?" "Did I deserve to die?" My mother was trapped inside that prison until the very end. Broken, she was terrified and lost. Even on death row, there was only one question she wanted answered: "Why?" She asked it, but all she got in return was Grandpa's sanctimonious sigh. "Alanna, I raised you as my own daughter, yet somehow you still committed such a terrible crime. I failed to teach you properly. I've let your father down and betrayed the promise I made to him before he died." No, that wasn't true. His adopted daughter, Alanna, was standing right in front of me. The real killer had escaped justice, stolen my mother's name, and spent forty years living a glamorous, happy life. Meanwhile, his innocent biological daughter had remained wrongfully condemned for forty years. And now, that woman calling herself "Florence" stood before me. She pointed at the large insulated food carrier in the driver's hands and smiled. "Judge Hart, it's getting late. You probably haven't had dinner yet. My family made this meat pie together. We'd love for you to try some." She tapped the bottom of the container and gave me a meaningful look, hinting at something else. I turned and walked away. "No thanks. I've already eaten." Apparently, she hadn't expected that response. She hurried after me. "Judge Hart—" I grabbed a filthy wire hanger from nearby and held it out between us, stopping her from getting any closer. My voice turned icy. "According to court regulations, judicial personnel are prohibited from privately contacting parties involved in cases they are handling, as well as their relatives and other related individuals. If you have something to say, submit a formal request through the proper legal channels." The smile vanished from "Florence's" face, and she dropped the act entirely. "Judge Hart, let's stop pretending and speak honestly. There's enough money in that container for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life. "And if money isn't what you want, I can offer other things. A bright future, for example. "Every generation of the Kanes has had only one daughter. Scarlett is the treasure of our entire family. I won't let anything happen to her." I tightened my grip on the hanger and refused to back down. "So your child is precious, but other people's children aren't? "I believe only one thing: the law will deliver a fair verdict. The guilty must be punished. Murderers must answer for their crimes." "Florence's" expression darkened completely. "Paloma Kane, you don't have any powerful connections, yet somehow you became a judge at such a young age. Who knows how many men you've slept with behind the scenes to get where you are? Who are you trying to impress with this act? "I tried being reasonable, but you refused to listen. And once you've offended the Kane family, don't expect a happy ending." Chapter 4 "By then, losing your job will be the least of your worries. If you lose your life, don't say I didn't warn you." I looked at her calmly. "If you're finished, you should leave. No matter what you do, the outcome won't change." "Florence" let out a cold snort. "Since you won't listen to reason, you'll have to suffer the consequences!" Vanessa fixed me with an icy stare. "Judge Hart, I hope you'll still be this confident in the days ahead." I gave a slight nod. "Thank you. I will." The mother and daughter froze for a second. When they realized I was being completely serious, they slammed the car door shut and drove away in anger. I didn't think much of it. I ate, slept, and went about my life as usual. The next morning, negative stories about me spread like wildfire. The Kanes never stepped into the spotlight themselves. Instead, they used media outlets, influencers, and online personalities to stir public opinion. Short videos flooded every platform, all promoting the idea that Scarlett Kane was innocent, the real killer was Nova Spears, and that Scarlett was a victim too. They focused heavily on the claim that as the presiding judge, I was supposed to remain impartial but had accepted bribes from Nova's family and was therefore treating the two girls differently. Some accusations were even more ridiculous. One rumor claimed I sympathized with Nova because I'd also grown up in a single-parent household. Another claimed I'd spent my entire life relying on financial aid, growing up in poverty and developing a twisted resentment toward happy families. According to them, that was why I had targeted Scarlett and the Kanes, a family of philanthropists who had helped countless people. The public was furious. Online, people tore into me without mercy. "A twisted woman like her? No wonder she grew up without a mother!" "So she took bribes too? Shameless!" "I heard her father died young. He was probably cursed by an unfilial daughter like her!" "Report her! Someone like that doesn't deserve to be a judge!" My colleagues were deeply concerned. "Judge Hart, this has gotten out of control. You need to put your bias aside and take another look at this case." "It's not just angry comments anymore. People are filing formal complaints under their real names. Some are even calling the court just to scream at you." "No matter how you look at it, Scarlett is innocent. Don't be so stubborn. Leave yourself a way out." I remained unmoved. "Whether she's innocent or not will be decided in court." Zach walked over with a frown. "Paloma, this has blown up too big. I think you should recuse yourself and let me take over." I looked at him. "Why should I recuse myself?" "The defendant's family believes you accepted bribes. Doesn't that warrant recusal?" I turned toward him, my eyes cold. "This is a court of law. Accusations require evidence. Without evidence, it's slander." Zach fell silent for a moment. Still wearing the expression of someone trying to help, he continued, "I'm only looking out for you. Don't forget how hard you've worked to get where you are. If you lose your position as a judge over this, it won't be worth it." I waved him off. "There's no need. I became a judge for one reason only: to eliminate injustice and restore fairness. "As long as the guilty are brought to justice, everything else is worth it." Public opinion continued to intensify, but I refused to back down. In response, the Kanes requested a jury trial and petitioned for the proceedings to be made public. The court approved both requests. The day of the trial arrived. Everyone gathered at the courthouse. Then an elderly man entered, leaning on a cane. Though he was dressed plainly, his chest was covered in medals and commendations. The moment he appeared, he became the center of attention. Chapter 5 I looked up, and my steps came to an abrupt halt. The man standing there was the person most responsible for my mother's death—my grandfather, Tanner Kane. Even if I died, I would never forget that face. Whenever I encountered obstacles, whenever I felt tempted to give up, I would pull up videos of his award ceremonies and watch them over and over again. I used them to remind myself of one thing: until these hypocrites were dragged down from their pedestal and brought before the law, I could never retreat. Ahead of me, reporters surrounded him, each wearing an almost reverent expression. "Mr. Kane, we didn't expect you to appear in person today. What would you like to say about this case?" Tanner let out a sigh. "Since they were young, I've always taught the children in our family to be kind and charitable. When they see someone in need, they should lend a helping hand. "My great-granddaughter only got involved because she followed those teachings and tried to help a friend who was being bullied. Instead, she became entangled in these baseless accusations. "But that's alright. I'll continue teaching her to be a good person. I believe good people are rewarded in the end. Misunderstandings are only temporary." He spoke as though he were the victim. The public immediately ate it up. Sympathy flooded to his side. "I support Mr. Kane! He's donated so much money throughout his life. There's no way a child he raised could be a bad person!" "Exactly! The court must be fair. We can't let such a great philanthropist down!" The support wasn't limited to the internet. People at the courthouse began chanting slogans in his defense. Separated by the crowd, Grandpa and I locked eyes. A meaningful smile appeared on his face. "Judge Hart, I hope you'll approach this case with complete fairness and live up to the responsibility you carry." While his gaze was sharp, mine never wavered. I replied firmly, "I will." I walked toward the bench, where Scarlett stood at the defendant's table in her school uniform. I instructed coldly, "Remove the uniform. This courtroom will not allow anyone to use clothing to solicit sympathy." Scarlett rose to her feet and shot back, "Judge, if the fact that I had a happy childhood somehow offends you and makes you target me, there's nothing I can do about that. "I'm a student. A good student. My parents and other elders are all respected philanthropists. I grew up watching them help others, and I've spent my whole life doing the same. "Everyone at school says I'm kind and compassionate. Even Madison's family admitted that Madison and I were very close. I couldn't possibly be the killer. "What I don't understand is why you're so determined to come after me. Is it because my childhood was better than yours? Are you jealous and spiteful of me because of it?" The courtroom erupted. Even online, the backlash was immediate. "How is someone like this still allowed to be a judge? This whole thing is rigged!" "Why does Judge Hart keep targeting Scarlett? This is obviously personal!" Nevertheless, standing at the bench, I remained calm. "A good student? Close friends with the victim? Someone captured this on a drone. How do you explain it?" A video clip appeared on the courtroom's large screen. The moment the footage began to play, everyone in the courtroom gasped.