Chapter 131

Sophie’s pov ; The day of the trial arrived, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I walked into the courtroom. Mrs. Carpenter, my mother now, had reassured me earlier. "Bella, when you will be present as a witness later. Don’t be afraid. Just say whatever you remember. No one can do anything to you." Her words were comforting, but the weight of what I was about to do still pressed heavily on me. My parents and brother were there too, their presence giving me strength. "Yes, Bella, your parents will be with you. Don’t be afraid," my father said, his voice steady and reassuring. With their encouragement, I took a deep breath and stepped into the courtroom. The moment my old family—Mark and his wife—were brought in, the air seemed to thicken. As soon as they saw me, they started screaming, their voices desperate and pleading. "Girl! Save us! After all, we were the ones who raised you. Don’t you care about family affection at all?" Mark’s wife cried out, her voice shrill. "Alt