Chapter 268
Chapter 268
A low murmur rippled through the gallery when Lillian entered through the side door.
She wore a dark blue coat, her hair cut short—just above her ears. She looked far more composed than she had in detention.
The prosecutor began. "Lillian, please describe your relationship with the defendant, Leon."
Lillian drew a deep breath, her gaze drifting past the courtroom to the hunched figure in the defendant's stand.
She was silent for two seconds. Then she spoke, her voice steady.
"Leon reached out to me through Jason. He promised me money in exchange for creating conflict between Cedric and his wife—to drive a wedge between them."
"What were his specific instructions?"
"He told me to manufacture enough misunderstandings to create a rift between Katniss and Cedric."
Lillian paused.
"He also gave me a listening device and told me to find a way to plant it in Katniss's phone."
"Did you know the purpose of the device?"
"He said it would allow him to track Katniss's movements and monitor her calls. That it was part of his next move."
"Did you know what that next move was?"
Lillian shook her head. "He didn't tell me everything. He only said that once things fell apart between Katniss and Cedric, he'd have a way to force Cedric out of the chairman's seat."
Another stir in the gallery.
Leon's head snapped up. He stared at Lillian, his eyes blazing, but he said nothing. His fists clenched white at his sides.
Lillian's testimony lasted nearly an hour.
The judge called a thirty-minute recess.
---
Katniss walked out of the courtroom and stood by the window at the end of the corridor, staring at the overcast sky. She let out a long, slow breath.
Footsteps behind her.
She didn't turn around.
"Are you okay?"
Cedric's voice came from behind her, tentative. Careful.
"I'm fine." She kept her eyes on the window. "Calmer than I expected."
Cedric moved to stand beside her, about three feet away, looking out at the same gray sky.
They stood there side by side. Neither spoke.
After a long while, Cedric broke the silence. "I have a statement to make during this afternoon's session."
"Mm."
"I want to publicly apologize to you. In court."
Katniss finally turned her head. His jaw was clenched tight, the muscles in his profile taut—like he was gathering courage.
"You don't have to—"
"I need to." He cut her off and turned to meet her eyes. "It's not for anyone else. It's for me."
Katniss held his gaze for several seconds, then gave a small nod.
---
The afternoon session resumed.
After the prosecutor's closing statement, the judge looked toward the defendant's stand. "Does the defendant have anything further to say?"
Leon stood. His lips moved, but in the end only one word came out. "No."
The judge turned to the gallery. "Do any related parties wish to make a supplementary statement?"
Cedric stood.
He straightened his collar, walked to the witness stand, but didn't sit. He stood beside it, facing the judge and the entire gallery.
"Your Honor, I have something I'd like to say."
The judge nodded. "Go ahead."
Cedric pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket, opened it, glanced down once, then raised his head. His voice was steady and clear.
"My name is Cedric York. I am the husband of the victim in this case, Katniss Astor. I hereby formally declare that I am dropping all legal claims against Ms. Katniss Astor regarding the alleged leak, and I publicly acknowledge that the so-called incriminating email was fabricated by Leon."
"Ms. Katniss Astor is completely innocent in this entire matter."
He paused, glanced at the paper, and continued. "At the same time, I publicly apologize to Ms. Katniss Astor. When the incident occurred, I chose not to believe her. I was misled by the false evidence Leon created, and I subjected her to unwarranted suspicion and blame."
"My lack of trust caused her tremendous harm."
His voice trembled, just barely—then steadied.
"I admit that I have been an inadequate husband. All of this was my failing, and mine alone. Ms. Katniss Astor bears no responsibility."
He set the paper down and lifted his gaze, looking past the courtroom to the figure in white sitting in the gallery.
"Katniss, I'm sorry."
The courtroom was silent for a long time.
Katniss sat in her seat, watching Cedric standing by the witness stand. Heat prickled behind her eyes. She pressed her lips together hard, then gave him a small, quiet nod.
---
When the trial concluded, Leon was found guilty on multiple counts—commercial bribery, defamation, and incitement to commit crimes. He was sentenced to twelve years in prison.
Lillian received a reduced sentence for her cooperation: two years, suspended for three.
The moment the verdict was read, she stood at the witness stand, her knees buckling. She nearly collapsed.
A bailiff steadied her. Once she found her footing, she turned and looked at Katniss through the crowd. Her lips moved soundlessly.
Katniss read the shape of the words. 'Thank you.'
She didn't respond. She simply turned and walked out of the courtroom.
---
The sunlight outside was almost blinding. Katniss stood on the courthouse steps, squinting at the gray-blue horizon, and drew in a deep breath.
The air carried the scent of early summer—a hint of fresh grass and warm earth.
Footsteps behind her.
She didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
Cedric came down the steps and stopped behind her. He didn't move closer. He just stood there, looking out at the same sky.
They were silent for a long time.
"Can I give you a ride home?" Cedric asked, testing the waters.
"No, I'll just grab a cab."
"Then I'll wait with you."
Katniss didn't refuse.
They stood side by side on the courthouse steps, watching the stream of cars pass by. Neither said another word.
The sunlight stretched their shadows long across the pavement.
---
A week after Leon went to prison, Cody had recovered enough to stand with support and take a few steps.
He sat in his living room chair, surveying the familiar surroundings, and let out a long sigh.
A housekeeper brought him a bowl of hot soup. He took a few sips, set it down, leaned back, and his gaze grew distant.
"I heard about Leon."
Cedric and Katniss exchanged a glance. Neither spoke.
Cody was quiet for a long time before he finally said, his voice carrying a desolate weight that was hard to name:
"Greed has no limits. Decades of friendship—all the hardship we endured together—and it still came to this."