241
~Bella's POV
The courtroom had cleared out, but we stayed behind. There was still paperwork to finalize, signatures to collect, and protocols to follow before Noah could officially walk out as a free man. I didn't mind waiting. After ten long years, what was another hour?
Alex stood beside me near the hallway, his arms crossed loosely over his chest, eyes flicking now and then to the entrance where they had taken Noah to process his release. He wasn't saying much, but I could tell his mind was running, probably thinking about every detail, making sure everything was airtight. He'd done so much. More than I could ever put into words.
Mr. Donovani came to stand with us, tucking a file under his arm. "It's all done. Just a few formalities left now," he said with a small, tired smile. "He'll be out shortly."
I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. "Thank you," I said to him, my voice low and shaky. "For everything."
