Chapter 70. The Verdict

Carlos took the stand with a calm determination that belied the emotions swirling within him. He took the oath, then settled into the chair, his eyes scanning the courtroom before resting on Anna for a brief moment. Their eyes met, and for a heartbeat, the world seemed to pause.

He felt a pinch in his heart as he wondered why she had not been returning his calls or texts. He even realized this morning that he might have been blocked, and it broke his heart.

He did everything right; he was even betraying his own family. So yeah, he was not doing it only for her but because it was the right thing to do, but still… he thought that she would have at least respected him more by allowing him into her heart.

The closest he had ever gotten to her was when he kissed her back at that place, but besides that, it was like she kept building this invisible wall between them, and he never understood why.

The judge cleared her throat, and then, he turned to face the jury, re