01
46
At the judgment seat, I stood in the defendant’s position as the court officer fitted me with
the memory–extraction helmet.
“Once the Judgment Helmet is on, withdrawing midway will confirm your guilt and result in execution. Eric Thorne, are you sure you want to proceed?“?
The judge recited the warning in a robotic tone, but I felt nothing except unwavering determination as I nodded firmly.
Michelle glanced at me, a flicker of guilt in her eyes.
Yes, this trial for being a sc*mbag husband was brought against me by Michelle Tate, my wife of five years.
Her motive was simple. She wanted to leave me penniless, throw me in jail, and run off with her first love and my money.
But what they didn’t know was that I’d been reborn.
In my previous life, I’d spared her out of sentiment and refused to wear the judgment helmet. Under public pressure, I pleaded guilty. My punishment was just losing my assets and doing ten years, but Michelle would have faced disfigurement, constant misfortune, and even mortal danger.
Back then, I couldn’t understand why Michelle would do this. I thought she just didn’t get my awkward way of showing love, that she’d misunderstood me. I couldn’t bear to see her suffer such devastating consequences.
My soft heart proved what an absolute idiot I was. When I learned that Michelle had married Harris Wilson right after I went to prison, I was having my head repeatedly smashed against the cell bars by the prison gang leader and his cronies.
In the end, I never made it to my release date. I was beaten to death in prison.
“Let us begin!” the judge announced.
Above my head was a giant screen connected to displays across the nation.
“Wait!” Michelle suddenly stood up, drawing everyone’s attention.
Michelle looked at me with tear–filled eyes and a pitiful expression.
“Eric, wearing the Judgment Helmet will be torture. I can’t bear to see you suffer. If you just confess to your crimes, you’ll only face prison time. But if the truth comes out, your reputation will be ruined forever. How will you live with that?”
Her words drew sympathetic looks from everyone in the courtroom.
“Such a wonderful woman! How could that beast Eric not appreciate her? What a sc*mbag, taking his blessings for granted.”
“I’m Michelle’s neighbor, and she’s always been so down–to–earth. She’s incredibly good to Eric. You could say she’s the perfect example of a kind and devoted wife.”
“Exactly! Even now, this woman is still defending that lowlife. Your Honor, we support giving him a guilty verdict right now. Let him rot in prison!”
13:07 Tue, 24 Dec‹j
Eric. You could say she’s the perfect example of a kind and devoted wife.”
“Exactly! Even now, this woman is still defending that lowlife. Your Honor, we support giving. him a guilty verdict right now. Let him rot in prison!”