Nadia stepped out of the gallery, quickly squatting beside Zara and gently patting her back. "Zara, it's okay. We still have a fighting chance."
But Zara didn't want to hear it. She wasn't naive— she knew there was little Nathaniel could say to change the direction of the trial.
Nathaniel tapped her shoulder, then gently pulled her up. "I know you're heartbroken, and as much as I want to blame you, now is not the time."
Zara covered her face as more sobs wrecked her throat.
"We have to go and review the evidence they submitted. We don't have time to waste."
Zara tried to hold the tears back. She really did. But her heart was shattered. The kids' voices still echoed in her mind, over and over again.
When she finally raised her head, she saw Clement, Ethan, Benita, and their bodyguards chatting and laughing like they'd already won. That sight lit a fuse inside her.
She shoved Nadia and Nathaniel's hands off and stormed toward them.
