‹ Prequel: A Heart Full of Emptiness
Status: I will try to update as often as possible, it will be updated at least weekly.
The Masked Feelings
Chapter 37: Court
“I can’t do this. I can’t go in there.” I complained, running a stressed hand through my hair as I paced up and down the hallway outside of the court room.
“I know that it’s not nice Tash, but you have to. I’ll be sitting right behind you.” Cristiano assured me, standing up from his seat on the bench and walking over to me cautiously.
“But I just; I can’t look at him. I can’t look at him and try to act strong because I literally can’t. The thought of him repulses me and being in his presence; sitting there while his lawyer throws all of these questions at me; I can’t do that. I just can’t.” I ranted, covering my face with my hands.
“Hey, hey, hey; look at me.” Cristiano instructed softly, removing my hands from my face, revealing his sincere chocolate brown eyes. “If they do anything out of line, then Carmen will pick up on it straight away and object; she’s the best lawyer in Spain, so you have nothing to worry about. At the end of the trial Harry will be going to jail and we can continue with our lives and finally be together without any disruptions.” Cristiano said soothingly, while I inhaled deep breaths, calming down as I moulded into Cristiano’s arms while he hugged me.
“Natasha Grove.” A lady called, and I pulled back from Cristiano and shot him a wary look as I turned and headed into the court room with Cristiano hot on my trail.
“It’s alright Tasha; you know how this is going to work and you are prepared for any questions that will be asked. Also, given your medical condition, I have come to an agreement with the judge that not too many difficult questions should be asked as it may falter your progression.” Carmen told me and I nodded, feeling relief rushing through me as I was glad that there wouldn’t be too many questions.
“Ok, when will Harry come in here?” I asked, just as the doors opened and Harry came in along with his lawyer and two body guards. “How come there are body guards with him?” I whispered to Carmen.
“Security reasons.” Carmen answered and I nodded my head slowly, as Harry’s dull green eyes met mine.
“Where’s Irina?” I asked.
“She and your father managed to run away after Harry had shot you, but Harry was too distraught and emotionally unstable to run away so he got caught.” She answered and a chill ran down my spine as I realized that my father and Irina were still free.
“Right, so shall we begin?” The judge asked and the trial commenced with a courteous nod from both of Harry and I’s lawyers. “So, would Mr Clarke like to begin with his questions?” The judge asked, and Mr Clarke nodded, looking towards me as I warily got up and walked over to the chair beside the judge and then sitting down.
“So Miss Grove, you and my client here, Mr Strover.” Mr Clarke began, pausing as he turned and gestured towards Harry who was staring at me, his face showing no emotion. “Have had a history in which type of relationship?”
“We were together in a romantic relationship for around a year, and then I caught him cheating on me and broke up with him. It was later revealed though that Harry was in the relationship for publicity and not love however.” I answered, not allowing my voice to falter as Mr Clarke nodded with a wicked glimmer in his eyes, and a smug expression.
“And so, when you found him cheating on you I believe that Harry ran after the other girl. However, the following day you two met up; is that correct?” Mr Clarke asked and I had a bad feeling where he was taking this; he was going to try to earn the jury’s pity.
“It is.” I confirmed, with an even tone.
“And when my client told you that you were just part of a publicity stunt; how did you react to that?”
“Well, I was shocked. I honestly thought that Harry was above that; but clearly I was wrong.” I answered, deliberately making my answer brief so that he wouldn’t make me have to dig too deep into my feelings in-front of everybody and also because I now knew exactly where I was going.
“No, no, no, no, no. How did you physically react when Mr Strover told you this?” Mr Clarke asked.
“I hit him on the face.” I answered quietly, shame seeping through me and running through my blood stream as quiet mutter was heard by the jury, along with the scribbling of pen on paper.
“And is this the only time that you’ve hit him?” Mr Clarke pushed and I shook my head.
“I also hit him when he abducted me.” I replied and Mr Clarke nodded his head and took a step backwards, away from me.
“So, let’s move onto your abduction.” Mr Clarke began, and I felt myself wanting to slide down my chair and hide under the expensive mahogany table. “When Mr Strover abducted you, did you ever get physically harmed?” Mr Clarke asked, and I realized the change in angle. It was smart; very smart. He would make it look as though it was never Harry’s intention to hurt me, and that his motives were of pure love. That Harry never meant to shoot me; and I was beginning to worry that it might work.
“No.” I answered bluntly.
“Did he ever sexually abuse you?” He pushed, stepping closer, and I felt naked under his bullet proof stare.
“Well, he tried to but then Cristiano and Sergio saved me.” I answered as Mr Clarke stood right before me, with the hardest glare.
“That’s not answering my question.” He pointed out, his minty breath touching my face, and I wanted to disappear right now. The air felt heavy on my shoulders, and every breath that I tried to make was laboured.
“No.” I answered shakily as Mr Clarke nodded slyly. “Please can you take a step back?” I whispered and Mr Clarke’s eyes turned a cold black as his face hardened.
“Excuse me?” He asked, his voice sharp; cutting straight through me as I tried to breathe. I let out a shaky breath, but unable to take in a new one; and I knew what was happening. The signs all led to the same conclusion, that I was getting the beginnings of a panic attack.
“I-I can’t.” I began, stumbling over the words because of the lack of oxygen that was getting to my brain, making me unable to finish my sentence that ‘I can’t breathe.’
“You can’t what?” Mr Clarke challenged.
“JUST TAKE A STEP BACK MR CLARKE!” The judge bellowed, and Mr Clarke’s face flushed a violent red before he took a step back, with a flustered appearance. “Is that all?” The judge asked and he nodded slowly, summoning another person for questioning.
I stood up shakily and tried to get my legs to move as I walked over to my seat. The walk was humiliating, with my legs knocking back and forth in my high heels which I had regretted choosing to wear. My hands were shaking violently by my side as I finally made it to my seat, beside Lucy. “Here, breathe in and out of this.” Carmen whispered, handing me a brown paper bag.
“Does this happen often then?” I asked and she nodded before paying attention to the interaction between Mr Clarke and Tom; one of Harry’s friends. I had met Tom on a few occasions over dinner, back when I was dating Harry. Tom was a very loyal friend, and knew Harry like the back of his hand and so would be an obvious person for Mr Clarke to question.
After what had felt like an eternity of questioning, the jury and judge had left the room to discuss the situation. I glanced behind me to Cristiano who was looking back at me with a hopeful expression. I gave him a small smile before I turned around to talk to Carmen, “so how do you think that it went?” I asked, glancing over Harry who was staring at me with an expression mixed with guilt and sorrow.
“Pretty well actually, I’d be surprised if Mr Strover wasn’t to spend more than 10 years in jail.” Carmen informed me and I grinned, praying that she was right. The judge and jury then walked back into the room and everyone in the room arose, until the judge allowed us to take our seats.
“After a long discussion with the jury, a decision was made. The evidence is in the favour that Harry Strover is in-fact guilty and is to spend 25 years in jail.” The judge announced, and I finally felt like a huge burden had been lifted off of my shoulders. It had been like climbing a mountain with some clinging onto your back; and now I had reached the summit, and the person had climbed off. I tried to shrug the nagging at the back of my mind that I wasn’t completely safe yet with Irina and my father still out there, as I ran into Cristiano’s comforting arms knowing that Harry was finally gone.
“I know that it’s not nice Tash, but you have to. I’ll be sitting right behind you.” Cristiano assured me, standing up from his seat on the bench and walking over to me cautiously.
“But I just; I can’t look at him. I can’t look at him and try to act strong because I literally can’t. The thought of him repulses me and being in his presence; sitting there while his lawyer throws all of these questions at me; I can’t do that. I just can’t.” I ranted, covering my face with my hands.
“Hey, hey, hey; look at me.” Cristiano instructed softly, removing my hands from my face, revealing his sincere chocolate brown eyes. “If they do anything out of line, then Carmen will pick up on it straight away and object; she’s the best lawyer in Spain, so you have nothing to worry about. At the end of the trial Harry will be going to jail and we can continue with our lives and finally be together without any disruptions.” Cristiano said soothingly, while I inhaled deep breaths, calming down as I moulded into Cristiano’s arms while he hugged me.
“Natasha Grove.” A lady called, and I pulled back from Cristiano and shot him a wary look as I turned and headed into the court room with Cristiano hot on my trail.
“It’s alright Tasha; you know how this is going to work and you are prepared for any questions that will be asked. Also, given your medical condition, I have come to an agreement with the judge that not too many difficult questions should be asked as it may falter your progression.” Carmen told me and I nodded, feeling relief rushing through me as I was glad that there wouldn’t be too many questions.
“Ok, when will Harry come in here?” I asked, just as the doors opened and Harry came in along with his lawyer and two body guards. “How come there are body guards with him?” I whispered to Carmen.
“Security reasons.” Carmen answered and I nodded my head slowly, as Harry’s dull green eyes met mine.
“Where’s Irina?” I asked.
“She and your father managed to run away after Harry had shot you, but Harry was too distraught and emotionally unstable to run away so he got caught.” She answered and a chill ran down my spine as I realized that my father and Irina were still free.
“Right, so shall we begin?” The judge asked and the trial commenced with a courteous nod from both of Harry and I’s lawyers. “So, would Mr Clarke like to begin with his questions?” The judge asked, and Mr Clarke nodded, looking towards me as I warily got up and walked over to the chair beside the judge and then sitting down.
“So Miss Grove, you and my client here, Mr Strover.” Mr Clarke began, pausing as he turned and gestured towards Harry who was staring at me, his face showing no emotion. “Have had a history in which type of relationship?”
“We were together in a romantic relationship for around a year, and then I caught him cheating on me and broke up with him. It was later revealed though that Harry was in the relationship for publicity and not love however.” I answered, not allowing my voice to falter as Mr Clarke nodded with a wicked glimmer in his eyes, and a smug expression.
“And so, when you found him cheating on you I believe that Harry ran after the other girl. However, the following day you two met up; is that correct?” Mr Clarke asked and I had a bad feeling where he was taking this; he was going to try to earn the jury’s pity.
“It is.” I confirmed, with an even tone.
“And when my client told you that you were just part of a publicity stunt; how did you react to that?”
“Well, I was shocked. I honestly thought that Harry was above that; but clearly I was wrong.” I answered, deliberately making my answer brief so that he wouldn’t make me have to dig too deep into my feelings in-front of everybody and also because I now knew exactly where I was going.
“No, no, no, no, no. How did you physically react when Mr Strover told you this?” Mr Clarke asked.
“I hit him on the face.” I answered quietly, shame seeping through me and running through my blood stream as quiet mutter was heard by the jury, along with the scribbling of pen on paper.
“And is this the only time that you’ve hit him?” Mr Clarke pushed and I shook my head.
“I also hit him when he abducted me.” I replied and Mr Clarke nodded his head and took a step backwards, away from me.
“So, let’s move onto your abduction.” Mr Clarke began, and I felt myself wanting to slide down my chair and hide under the expensive mahogany table. “When Mr Strover abducted you, did you ever get physically harmed?” Mr Clarke asked, and I realized the change in angle. It was smart; very smart. He would make it look as though it was never Harry’s intention to hurt me, and that his motives were of pure love. That Harry never meant to shoot me; and I was beginning to worry that it might work.
“No.” I answered bluntly.
“Did he ever sexually abuse you?” He pushed, stepping closer, and I felt naked under his bullet proof stare.
“Well, he tried to but then Cristiano and Sergio saved me.” I answered as Mr Clarke stood right before me, with the hardest glare.
“That’s not answering my question.” He pointed out, his minty breath touching my face, and I wanted to disappear right now. The air felt heavy on my shoulders, and every breath that I tried to make was laboured.
“No.” I answered shakily as Mr Clarke nodded slyly. “Please can you take a step back?” I whispered and Mr Clarke’s eyes turned a cold black as his face hardened.
“Excuse me?” He asked, his voice sharp; cutting straight through me as I tried to breathe. I let out a shaky breath, but unable to take in a new one; and I knew what was happening. The signs all led to the same conclusion, that I was getting the beginnings of a panic attack.
“I-I can’t.” I began, stumbling over the words because of the lack of oxygen that was getting to my brain, making me unable to finish my sentence that ‘I can’t breathe.’
“You can’t what?” Mr Clarke challenged.
“JUST TAKE A STEP BACK MR CLARKE!” The judge bellowed, and Mr Clarke’s face flushed a violent red before he took a step back, with a flustered appearance. “Is that all?” The judge asked and he nodded slowly, summoning another person for questioning.
I stood up shakily and tried to get my legs to move as I walked over to my seat. The walk was humiliating, with my legs knocking back and forth in my high heels which I had regretted choosing to wear. My hands were shaking violently by my side as I finally made it to my seat, beside Lucy. “Here, breathe in and out of this.” Carmen whispered, handing me a brown paper bag.
“Does this happen often then?” I asked and she nodded before paying attention to the interaction between Mr Clarke and Tom; one of Harry’s friends. I had met Tom on a few occasions over dinner, back when I was dating Harry. Tom was a very loyal friend, and knew Harry like the back of his hand and so would be an obvious person for Mr Clarke to question.
After what had felt like an eternity of questioning, the jury and judge had left the room to discuss the situation. I glanced behind me to Cristiano who was looking back at me with a hopeful expression. I gave him a small smile before I turned around to talk to Carmen, “so how do you think that it went?” I asked, glancing over Harry who was staring at me with an expression mixed with guilt and sorrow.
“Pretty well actually, I’d be surprised if Mr Strover wasn’t to spend more than 10 years in jail.” Carmen informed me and I grinned, praying that she was right. The judge and jury then walked back into the room and everyone in the room arose, until the judge allowed us to take our seats.
“After a long discussion with the jury, a decision was made. The evidence is in the favour that Harry Strover is in-fact guilty and is to spend 25 years in jail.” The judge announced, and I finally felt like a huge burden had been lifted off of my shoulders. It had been like climbing a mountain with some clinging onto your back; and now I had reached the summit, and the person had climbed off. I tried to shrug the nagging at the back of my mind that I wasn’t completely safe yet with Irina and my father still out there, as I ran into Cristiano’s comforting arms knowing that Harry was finally gone.
♠ ♠ ♠
So Harry is has been found guilty, but Irina and Tasha's dad are still out there! Also, I just wanted to let you all know that the next chapter will be the final chapter for this story!! :)