“From Ashes to Hope) Chapter 24
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After careful consideration, the police decided to shift their focus to Raina’s
personal relationships.
After a meticulous investigation, they discovered that Raina had a close
friend named Helen Lewis.
Suspiciously, Helen suddenly became wealthy after Raina’s father’s death.
She claimed to have won the lottery and then used the money to start a
business, opening a factory in the south.
The police acted decisively, summoning Helen for questioning.
Initially, Helen kept her head down, her eyes shifty, her lips tightly sealed,
refusing to reveal any information.“I don’t know anything, please don’t ask me,”
she muttered repeatedly.
However, the police, with their extensive interrogation experience and
hawk–like observation skills, didn’t relent, applying constant psychological
pressure.
One officer stared at her intently, his voice stern.“You know that harboring a
criminal has serious consequences. It’s not too late to turn yourself in, don’t
make another mistake.”
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Meanwhile, the other officers reasoned with her, appealing to her
conscience and analyzing the pros and cons of her actions.
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Under this intense pressure, Helen’s resolve began to crumble. Her face
paled, beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her hands nervously twisted
the hem of her clothes.
Finally, her defenses broke.
She looked up, her gaze evasive, and stammered, “Raina used to complain to
me about her father, saying she wished he was dead.
On the day of his death, I saw Raina sneakily pouring something into a
bottle of alcohol.
The next day, her father died. I used this to blackmail her, demanding one hundred thousand dollars for my silence. That’s the money I used to start my
business.”
With Helen’s testimony, the police interrogated Raina again.
This time, they presented the new evidence before her.
Upon learning that the police had found Helen, Raina’s face turned pale as a
sheet. Her body trembled uncontrollably, knowing she could no longer escape. Her once strong defenses crumbled completely.
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She slumped in her chair, her head bowed, her voice low and raspy.“I admit
it, I did it,” she confessed. “I had suffered under his control for so long. He even
wanted to marry me off to a forty–year–old man. I begged him not to force me,
promising to find him a wealthy son–in–law like John, but he didn’t believe me.
So I mixed rubbing alcohol into his drink, so he could no longer control my life!”
She looked up, her eyes defiant.“He forced me to do it, it’s all his fault!”
With Raina’s confession, the case was finally solved, and she would face the
full consequences of her actions.
As one of the victim’s family members, I attended the court hearing.
In the courtroom, the judge, with a solemn expression, carefully considered
the circumstances of the case, the sufficiency of evidence, and the relevant legal
articles.
The
prosecutor eloquently presented the heinous nature of Raina’s crimes,
highlighting that she not only deliberately murdered her father out of personal
resentment but also orchestrated a horrific kidnapping.
In the kidnapping case, Raina, to achieve her ulterior motives, provided
crucial information to the criminals, enabling the kidnapping to take place.
During the kidnapping, due to the criminals‘ brutality and recklessness, one
person died. Her actions seriously endangered public safety and violated the law.
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Although her defense attorney tried to argue for a lighter sentence, the facts
of the crime were clear and the evidence was conclusive.
After careful deliberation, the judge found Raina guilty of intentional
homicide and kidnapping. She was sentenced to death and deprived of her
political rights for life.
Upon hearing the verdict, Raina’s body jolted, tears welling up in her
eyes.
The police also imposed appropriate punishment on Helen. For harboring a
criminal and extorting money, she was sentenced to three years in prison with a
two–year suspended sentence.
This outcome upheld the dignity of the law and brought justice to society,
demonstrating that criminal acts, regardless of their motivation, would not be
tolerated, and the law would deliver a fair judgment on every offender.
The moment the judge pronounced Raina’s death sentence, I felt the tension
that had been gripping me for so long finally release.
I felt no pity for Raina as I watched her despair.
My mother and my daughter had both lost their lives because of her evil
deeds.
For so long, I had been tormented by hatred and pain, every night a struggle.
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Now, she would finally pay the ultimate price for her actions.
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I took a deep breath, the burden on my heart seeming to lift, a sense of relief
washing over me.
Outside the courtroom, I saw my ex–husband, John.
He stood alone, dejected, having not attended the hearing.
Sunlight fell on his shoulders, but his face was shrouded in shadows, filled
with gloom.
When he saw me emerge from the courtroom, his expression became
complex.
He approached me with heavy steps, his voice low and filled with remorse.“I
Raina killed your mother, and our daughter. I’m so sorry,” he said, his
know now,
words overflowing with guilt.
I raised my head, gazing at him, memories of our past flooding my mind.
I turned away, my voice soft.“It’s not all your fault.”
John shook his head, his eyes filled with pain.“No, it’s definitely my fault. I
know now, it was that wicked Raina who killed your mother and our poor
daughter.
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My heart is filled with guilt. Thinking back, if I hadn’t saved her good–for-
nothing father, maybe none of this would have happened.
I never imagined that my poor judgment would lead to such irreversible
consequences.
I’m so sorry, to you and our daughter. I hate myself for being so blind.”
His eyes reddened, tears welling up as he mentioned Lily.
I remained silent for a long time. The resentment in my heart had slowly
dissipated over the course of the investigation, replaced by time and grief.
“The past is the past, she has received her punishment,” I said softly.
John looked at me, his expression mournful, his eyes holding a glimmer of
hope.“Can you forgive me?” he asked quietly.
