The Trial's Unsung Hero

"Once the undercover mission is over, we'll be waiting to attend your wedding!"

The memory froze on the screen. My eyes went dazed, while Jonah looked as if he'd been stabbed where it hurt the most. His fists clenched, and the corners of his eyes were red.

As for the audience, they sneered in disdain.

"Anyone can make empty promises. When disaster struck, she immediately abandoned the male lead and slept with the antagonist!"

"Yeah! She's nothing but a disgrace to her profession. Working with her must have been pure hell for the male lead!"

Sure enough, the next scene proved their point. Jonah was forced to his knees, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at me in despair.

"Rose Vega, I've already gathered all the evidence and have the getaway car ready. We're this close to finishing our mission. We're this close to bringing the antagonist to justice, and then we can retire and get married. So why… Why did you rat me out? Why did you abandon our cause?"

"You ask too many questions. Fine, I'll tell you the truth." Sitting in the arms of the antagonist, Austin Hood, I showed no guilt. I even smirked as I raised my hand to reveal the dazzling diamond ring on my finger.

"Because the diamond he gave me is ten times bigger than yours. Because he took a liking to me. All I had to do was sell you out, and I'd have endless riches and glory.

"What I can get are things you could never earn in your whole life. Why would I throw away such a good life for a poor man like you?"

Jonah's pupils constricted, his voice breaking into a roar. "This can't be true! Rose, I know you. You're not that kind of person. You'd never betray me, or your own conscience, for money!"

Suppressing the anguish within me, I clung to Austin with a sly smile.

"You really don't know me at all. It's human nature to want to move up in life. I'll be honest—I've already slept with Austin. Don't resent me for betraying you, Jonah. I just want a better future for myself."

With a satisfied smile, Austin fed me the last grape. "Enough. Lock him in the dungeon."

After quietly finishing the grape, I gazed at Jonah's utterly desolate expression before earnestly suggesting, "He's tough. He might try to escape. A dungeon might not hold him."

Austin raised an eyebrow. "So what do you propose?"

I stepped out of his embrace with a smile and approached Jonah. I stepped on his fingers with my heel before grinding down hard.

"Why don't we break his legs and throw him into the jungle to feed the mountain lions?"

My face turned ashen as I watched the memories of the past. Yet I was grateful the judge hadn't continued playing my memories.

Please just stop here.

Jonah's expression was as grim as it was on the screen. He raised a hand to clutch his aching chest, prompting Crystal to quickly hold him.

"Jonah, are you alright? Are you mourning the past? If Rose had known that you wouldn't be eaten by the mountain lions and that you would bring the police to their base to bring them to justice, maybe she wouldn't have been so cruel to you."

A cold, mocking laugh escaped Jonah's lips. "No, she's nothing but cruel. There's no way she'd be merciful. But if not for her heartlessness, I never would've met you."

Crystal looked at him shyly, her fingers tightening around his hand.

The crowd seethed with rage.

"That vicious side character probably never expected the mountain lion's den to have a hole. She never imagined the hero would escape through it before running into the female lead, who saved him."

"Ha! Imagine her finding out that after becoming a national hero, he gave the female lead a diamond-encrusted bracelet. She'd probably die of rage."

Someone grew impatient and said, "Your Honor, let's keep watching. Once we see it all, this vile woman can finally receive her deserved sentence!"

A sharp pain seized my heart. With what little strength my battered body had left, I shouted with all my might, "That's enough! I admit my guilt. I am ruthless, cruel, and guilty of countless sins. Just end my life now!

"If killing me isn't enough to ease your anger, then torture me to death. I'll accept it without complaint. Just stop watching!"