Chapter 180 Finally Free
“–This is indeed the self-defence of a teenage boy against sexual assault. By all the evidence and statements presented, this court declares William Grayson as not guilty.”
The gasp William held back was released abruptly accompanied by a few tears of freedom. The declaration of the court obliterated the years of heftiness he carried.
“Moreover, Liyah Hartman, for an attempt to hide a murder, bribing authorities, forceful ownership of the share, and for the abuse of Helena Grayson, Luke Grayson, and William Grayson, this court sentences you to lifetime imprisonment.”
The amount of felicity the Grayson family experienced to hear this outcome was inexplicable. The declaration was a seal on their childhood trauma, the end of their lifetime anguish.
“This court is adjourned.”
Liyah was being led toward the processing desk, her hair disheveled, her expensive dress wrinkled. For the first time, she looked defeated, her lip quivering, tears of defeat glistening there.
William stood in her path. He wasn’t angry, he simply looked at her with a profound, chilling clarity. The look of redemption, a smile spreading on his lip.
The officers stopped, allowing the moment of silence to stretch.
"I… hated my brother. I hated how he had three children, a loving wife, 70% of our father’s wealth. A fucking perfect family," Liyah spat, her voice cracked, a hysterical smile coming to her lips.
"I took my revenge, I destroyed the people he adored, I took his wealth—"
“Do you know why I never called child support before? It wasn’t because of the foster home but I thought I deserved every pain you had inflicted on me, Liyah.”
He started in a low, soft tone, causing the officers to look at him in confusion. His smile trembled, that horrifying day still vividly present in his mind.
“I cursed my parents, I said I wish they would die. They died that very night. Subsequently, I endured every pain as punishment. I thought… this is my punishment…”
Biting his bottom lip, he looked down, tears filling his eyes miserably. Every moment there struck with, earning a flinch from the man.
“But, you know what? It was hellish. It fucking killed me from inside. I hated every moment in your home, wishing I had died with my biological mother at birth.” He let out a painful sobbing, unable to tilt his head and find all those moments there.
The guards gave him a compassionate look and a resentful one to Liyah.
After regaining his posture, he took a deep breath, wiping his eyes with his sleeves roughly.
He stepped closer, looking into the eyes of the woman who had held him in psychological chains for a decade.
“And you know what?” He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper that only she could hear.
"I will never forgive you. Do you hear me, Liyah? Never. Not for what happened in that library, and not for the years of hell you put me through." He hissed.
“You ruined my life, Liyah Hartman, and I wish you to spend the rest of your life repenting for the pain you gave me.”
Liyah opened her mouth to retort, but William cut her off with a single, sharp look. The intensity of his glare frightened her.
“Let’s go, woman.” The officer roughly dragged her, more infuriated with her for traumatizing an already traumatized kid.
“I hope that prison will knock some damn sense in you.”
As she was led toward the holding cells, shrieking about loyalty and legacy, William didn't turn back. He walked toward the exit, toward the light spilling in through the glass doors.
William was a free man. And not only freed from the charges but the chains that ruined him, the heavy past, and the pain.
As he stepped out, he saw a supportive brother, a beloved sister, a devotional sister-in-law and most importantly– His world, his wife.
The heartwarming sight brought
Luke and Helena were the first to reach him. The siblings hugged their brother rigidly.
“William! You are finally free!” They beamed.
“I am so happy for you… I am sorry, I-I had no idea this happened to you, William.” Helena whispered sadly, holding his waist with her head on his chest, a few tears filling her eyes.
“I didn’t want to trouble you but…” He placed his hand over her head to give her his blessings, “You can compensate by making me the coolest Uncle.”
She chuckled, grinning at him, “Of course.”
He snaked his other hand around Luke’s shoulder, grinning at him to show his appreciation and praise, lifting his gaze with a sheepish but highly delightful sparkle.
This was the moment he imagined. William was proud of him.
“You have grown into a fine man, Luke,” William whispered, giving him a firm squeeze. Luke chuckled as the siblings remained like this for a few seconds before pulling away.
William glanced at Peach who stood with a satisfied smirk, her arms crossed, the Spoiled Princess finally at rest now that her family was secure.
“Thank you, Peach.”
“No problem. You can compensate by requesting your brother to work on making you the Coolest Uncle from our side too. We got five to work on.”
Luke blushed at the blunt comment, his jaw dropping, “Last time we had three and you were pregnant with one.”
“Now we have four and I am pregnant with one.”
“How far are you in the imagination, Woman!?” Luke gasped, his cheeks burning and the idea of ‘five’ kids causing him to panic internally.
“12 Years into marriage.” Peach announced proudly.
“Looks like our Luke isn’t going to get any rest anytime soon.” Helena chuckled as Luke started to bicker with Peach on the quantity of their imaginary children.
William chuckled, shaking his head and walked forward. There was Arabella.
She was standing a few feet away, her eyes shimmering with a mixture of grief for what he had suffered and a fierce, undying love for the man he had become.
William smiled. His eyes greet hers, turning him oblivious of this world. With a heartwarming expression, he opened his arms out to her.
Tears shone in her eyes and she charged towards her husband, engulfing him in a tight hug, kissing his neck, shutting her eyes to not ever his warmth ever again.
The hug was a collision of souls.
William buried his face in the crook of her neck, his hands clutching her coat as if he were trying to pull her into his very skin. He let out a long, shuddering breath, indulging the closeness of her skin.
"You stayed. This isn’t an imagination, you are here, you are real," he whispered, kissing her head, cupping her cheek with tears of felicity. "You stayed through it all."
"I told you," she said, pulling back just enough to look into his eyes, her fingers wiping away his tears. "Take my breath away if I fail. I’m not going anywhere."
William stared intensely at her, refusing to let her go. He leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers, signalling he was finally home.