Chapter 113 Julian Thorne’s Fate

Chapter 113 Julian Thorne’s Fate
Julian stood before the court with his hands bound in front of him, his body carrying far more exhaustion than the proceedings seemed willing to acknowledge.
His shoulders had lost their usual rigid strength. His face looked pale beneath the harsh courtroom lights, and every breath seemed to require more effort than it should.
Still, his expression remained straight.
The judge's voice carried across the courtroom as his offenses were read aloud.
“Julian Thorne has been found to have participated in the killing of Ambrose Moreau alongside his father, Victor Thorne, who remains on the run. He also took the law into his own hands by abducting his twin brother, Damien Thorne, rather than surrendering him to the authorities to face legal judgment for his crimes.”
A murmur passed through the courtroom.
Julian didn't react.
He had already admitted to everything. He was down for the consequences.
The judge continued.
“However, the court has taken into consideration the defendant's voluntary confession, his cooperation with the investigation, and evidence establishing that Mr. Thorne was initially acting under the influence and coercion of his father before eventually becoming involved in the crimes himself.”
Julian's eyes remained fixed ahead.
“Therefore, the court has reduced the initial sentence of thirty years imprisonment to ten years.”
Knox's face fell. “Shit.”
The word left him under his breath.
Ten years.
He had expected Julian to walk out of this courtroom.
After everything Julian had confessed to, after everything they had uncovered about Victor's influence over him, Knox had believed there would be enough grounds for the court to release him or at least suspend his sentence.
But ten years?
Knox looked toward the man standing before the judge.
Julian could barely remain upright.
His condition had deteriorated so badly that Knox couldn't imagine him surviving a year inside prison, let alone ten.
His chest tightened.
‘He'll die before he serves this sentence.’
The thought broke something inside him.
The judge looked toward Julian.
“Mr. Thorne, you have the opportunity to make a final statement before the court concludes the proceedings.”
The courtroom fell silent.
Julian slowly lifted his head.
For a moment, Knox hoped he would speak.
Maybe Julian would finally tell them about his condition.
Maybe he would explain that ten years was practically a death sentence.
Maybe he would ask for mercy.
Instead, Julian simply shook his head.
“I have nothing to say.”
His voice came out low and rough.
The judge nodded.
The final order was read.
The court was dismissed.
The moment Julian turned away, two officers approached him and secured his handcuffs.
Knox immediately rose and went after them. “Mr Zenith…” he had to use his business name to call him so that the officers wouldn’t suspect him as one of his workers.
One of the officers blocked him. “You need to stay back.”
Knox stared at Julian's retreating figure.
“I need to speak to him.”
“You can't.”
Knox's jaw tightened.
He followed anyway.
For several seconds, the officers refused to allow him close.
Then, perhaps noticing the desperation on his face, one of them finally stepped aside.
Knox hurried forward.
Julian was already walking unsteadily.
Knox caught him by the arm and held him upright.
“You might think I failed you by letting it get to this,” Knox said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. “But I won't fail you on the assignment you gave me.”
Julian stopped. A faint emotion flickered behind his tired eyes.
Knox continued. “I'll find her, boss. I promise.”
Julian swallowed. He didn't ask whether Knox meant Samantha.
He already knew.
His gaze dropped briefly before he asked the question that had been consuming his mind, “How is Seraphina?”
Knox's expression softened. “She’s doing well.”
He paused then added, “She wanted to come and see you.”
Julian's jaw tightened. He looked away. “Don’t let her. Only make sure she’s safe.” His voice weakened.
“Keep them safe until she decides to leave my house.”
Knox stared at him. “Boss—”
Julian looked at him.
That look ended the argument before it began.
“Go, Knox. You have things to do.”
Knox swallowed. “Stay strong. You were never a weak man, Julian.” He said, trying to remind his boss of who he was.
Julian gave a small nod. Then he turned toward the officers. “Take me.”
The officers resumed walking.
Knox remained where he stood, watching Julian disappear through the doors.
His guts sank.
Something about the way Julian had said ‘take me’ had felt less like surrendering to prison and more like a man who had already accepted his death.
~
The prison doors closed behind Julian.
He expected to be taken toward the cells.
Instead, the officers turned down another corridor.
Julian squinted as his strained eyes scanned the surrounding he’s been taken through.
“Where are you taking me?”
Neither officer answered.
“I asked where you're taking me.”
They kept silence, aiding his suspicion.
They eventually entered a secluded room.
It looked nothing like a prison cell. There was a bed against one wall. A chair sat beside it. A small table stood near the corner.
Julian looked around slowly. “Where… is this?”
An officer pushed him toward the chair.
“Sit.”
Julian didn't.
He stared at him. Just then, the door opened.
A middle-aged man in a white laboratory coat entered.
Julian's eyes narrowed at him, his suspicion heightening.
“What the hell is going on?”
The man didn't answer also.
He simply walked toward him, rolled up his sleeve and prepared an injection.
Julian's body tensed. “Don't.” He couldn’t stop it though. He tried to push them away, but he was immediately flanked. They held him still. His energy was too weak to fight them.
The needle entered his arm and his vision blurred almost immediately. “What…” he couldn’t complete his words.
His legs failed him.
And just like that…The last thing he saw before darkness swallowed him was the white coat moving away.
~
Julian didn't know how long he had been unconscious.
Minutes? Hours? Maybe even longer.
Every time he opened his eyes, all he saw was white, before darkness took place again.
His body felt disconnected from his mind.
He tried moving his fingers but they were immovable.
He tried speaking but his throat refused to cooperate.
His eyelids became heavy again.
Then voices reached his ears.
“The President said he's too valuable to die.”
Julian's eyes opened slightly.
A blurry figure stood somewhere beyond his vision.
Another voice answered.
“Then the transplant must be done tomorrow.”
Transplant?
Julian tried to focus.
His mind struggled to process the words clearly.
A third voice spoke.
“He'll receive conditioning treatment first. We need to suppress and destroy the diseased marrow before the new hematopoietic stem cells are transfused into his body.”
Julian's breathing changed.
Hematopoietic... stem cells?
He couldn't understand.
It had been hard to find a compatible donor in the country. It was Samantha he had. And he had lost her.
Who had ordered this?
His body sank deeper into the mattress as another voice spoke.
“You should go ahead with it. The donor has already been brought in.”
There was a pause. The —
“After the transplant, he'll be transferred to the location where the President wants him.”
Julian's pulse quickened.
He tried to move, but he couldn’t.
He tried to force his eyes open wider. The room remained a blur.
Then the first voice spoke again.
“Bring her in.” There were sounds of footsteps retreating and entering. Then after a few minutes, soft footsteps sounded outside the room.
Julian stared toward the doorway, waiting. 
Then the door slowly opened.