Chapter 30 – The Verdict
I didn't sleep much.
Every time I closed my eyes I saw Karim's face on the witness stand, heard the text message read aloud, felt Adrian's hand trembling in mine.
The baby was restless too; I kept a hand on my stomach through the night.
At 6:30 a.m. Adrian was already up, making coffee.
"Good morning, wife," he said, but his voice was thin.
"Good morning, husband," I said.
We drank coffee. Neither of us could eat.
At 7 a.m. we left for the courthouse.
Mr. Salem was waiting at the door, his briefcase in hand, his face serious.
"Adrian, Lila. Ready?"
"As ready as we'll ever be," Adrian said.
We went inside.
The courtroom felt colder today.
Karim was already at the defendant's table, his lawyer leaning in, talking quietly.
Samira was in the back row, clutching her bag.
Adrian and I sat in the front row, holding hands.
The judge entered.
"All rise."
Everyone stood.
"You may be seated."
The judge looked at the lawyers.
"Are both sides ready for closing statements?"
"Yes, Your Honor," the prosecutor said.
"Yes, Your Honor," Karim's lawyer said.
The prosecutor stood.
He talked about the argument Samira witnessed, about the text message "You will pay for firing me," about the timing of Nadia's death.
"He had motive. He had opportunity. He had intent," the prosecutor said.
Karim's lawyer stood.
He talked about lack of DNA, lack of fingerprints, lack of an eyewitness to the murder.
"There is reasonable doubt," he said. "My client is innocent."
The judge nodded.
"The court will recess for one hour, then return with the verdict."
Everyone stood.
The judge left.
Adrian's hand was ice cold.
"One hour," he whispered.
"Yes."
We went outside the courtroom and sat on a bench.
Samira came and sat next to us.
"I'm so nervous," she said.
"Me too," I said.
Adrian didn't say anything. He just stared at the floor.
I rested my head on his shoulder.
"It's going to be okay," I whispered.
He nodded, but I could feel him shaking.
An hour passed slowly.
The bailiff called us back in.
We went back to our seats.
The judge entered.
"All rise."
Everyone stood.
"You may be seated."
The judge looked at Karim.
"Mr. Karim Hassan, the court has reached a verdict."
My heart was pounding so hard I thought it would burst.
"The court finds the defendant, Karim Hassan, GUILTY of the murder of Nadia Hassan."
The words hit the room like a thunderclap.
Adrian gasped.
I grabbed his hand.
Karim's face went white.
"No! This is wrong!" he shouted.
"Bailiff, remove the defendant," the judge said.
Two officers grabbed Karim's arms.
"I'm innocent! I didn't do it!" Karim shouted as they led him out.
The courtroom was noisy.
People were talking.
Samira was crying.
Adrian was staring at the door where Karim had been taken out.
"Adrian," I whispered.
He turned to me, his eyes wet.
"He's guilty," he said.
"Yes."
"He's going to prison."
"Yes."
Adrian covered his face with his hands.
He was crying.
I put my arm around him.
"It's over, Adrian. It's over."
He nodded, crying.
"Justice for Nadia."
"Yes. Justice for Nadia."
Mr. Salem came over.
"Adrian, Lila. It's over. He'll be sentenced next week."
"Thank you, Mr. Salem," Adrian said.
"You're welcome."
Samira hugged me.
"Thank you for being here."
"You're welcome."
We left the courtroom.
Outside the building, the air felt different.
Lighter.
Adrian stopped on the steps and looked at the sky.
"He's going to prison," he said again, like he needed to hear it.
"Yes."
"Nadia can rest now."
"Yes."
Adrian turned to me and pulled me into a hug.
"Lila, we did it."
"Yes, we did it."
He kissed my forehead.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We got in a taxi and went home.
At home, Adrian went straight to his office.
I followed him.
He was standing in front of Nadia's photo on the shelf.
He was crying.
I went to him and put my arms around him.
"Adrian."
He turned and hugged me.
"He's going to prison, Lila."
"I know."
"Nadia can rest."
"Yes."
He kissed me.
"Thank you for being with me through this."
"You're welcome."
He kissed my stomach.
"Thank you for giving me our baby."
"You're welcome."
We held each other for a long time.
At 8 p.m. I made dinner.
We ate at the table.
After dinner, we sat on the couch.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"The trial is over."
"Yes."
"Karim is going to prison."
"Yes."
"Nadia can rest."
"Yes."
He put his hand on my stomach.
"How is the baby?"
"The baby is fine."
He kissed my forehead.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We sat on the couch until 10 p.m.
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 133 – The verdict. Karim is guilty.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She's my wife.*
I closed the notebook.
I went to bed.
Adrian was already in bed.
I got in next to him.
He put his arm around me.
"Good night, wife."
"Good night, husband."
He kissed my forehead.
I fell asleep.
The next morning we woke up together.
We had coffee and breakfast together.
Adrian kissed my stomach before he left.
At 7 a.m. he left for work.
At 4 p.m. Mrs. Cole texted: *Layla is asking for you.*
I replied: *I'll see her tomorrow.*
*Mrs. Cole: She wants to know if the bad man is in prison.*
I replied: *Yes, habibti. The bad man is in prison.*
At 8 p.m. Adrian came home.
He hugged me and kissed my stomach.
"Hi, baby," he whispered.
I smiled.
"How was your day?" I asked.
"Good."
"How was work?"
"Good."
I served dinner.
We ate.
After dinner, we sat on the couch.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"The trial is over."
"Yes."
"Karim is going to prison."
"Yes."
He put his hand on my stomach.
"How is the baby?"
"The baby is fine."
He kissed my forehead.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
We sat on the couch until 10 p.m.
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 134 – The trial is over. Karim is going to prison.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She's my wife.*
I closed the notebook.
The trial was over.
Karim was going to prison.
Nadia could rest.
And I was pregnant with Adrian's baby.
I was no longer the woman in the contract.
I was Lila.
Adrian's wife.
Layla's mama.
And the mother of the child we were waiting for.