Chapter 292 Thank You, I’m Sorry
But this didn’t mean Asher was free to go.
He still had to remain in police custody, awaiting the final decision.
As soon as the trial ended, officers escorted the boy out of the courtroom.
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Mindy pushed through the crowd, slipping between people until she reached the front. Though a short distance separated them, it felt too far–too far to touch, too far to close the gap.
Her shoulders trembled involuntarily. Her eyes shimmered with something raw and broken, tears threatening to spill over–but she held them back.
She just stood there, locked in ce<b>, </b>staring at her son with clenched lips and aching silence.
Asher caught her gaze. His expression tightened ever so slightly.
The corner of his mouth twitched faintly. After a beat of silence, he called out-
“Mom.”
His voice was soft and cool, drifting between a sigh and a murmur. The words reached Mindy’s ears like <i>a </i>fragile breeze. Her tears nearly broke free.
“I’lle back.”
He gave her a small, easy smile–calm and distant.
Then, without another nce, Asher turned away and followed the officers forward.
At the courthouse entrance stood Jean, waiting by the doorway. Asher drew closer, about to pass by her.
“Hang in there,” Jean said, having deliberately waited here just to give him this final push of encouragement. She offered a warm smile, her curved eyes gleaming with gentle light. “You’re almost home. Just a little longer.”
Asher slowed his steps at the sound of her voice, blinking as something flickered in his expression.
He looked at her.
For a moment, thousands of thoughts flooded his mind–so fast<b>, </b>so chaotic, so hard to name. His feelings toward Jean wereplicated, tangled up in things he wasn’t sure he understood.
“Hurry up,” the officer ahead of him called, turning to prompt him forward.
Asher’s lips parted slightly. Then he spoke–quickly, quietly.
“Thank you. And…”
“I’m sorry.”
He didn’t look back. Just sped up and walked out the doors without hesitation.
Chapter 292 Thank You, I’m Sorry
He thanked her–she expected that. But sorry?
Why would he say sorry?
She didn’t feel wronged by him.
But Jean didn’t dwell on it. She turned to head toward Jolene, ready to regroup.
Behind her, Asher trailed the officers with lowered eyes. His expression dimmed.
He wasn’tpletely cut off from the outside world.
He’d heard bits and pieces.
Jolene had told him a lot–about what was being said online.
He didn’t care how badly people insulted him. None of that mattered. But-
The way they misunderstood and vilified Jean because of him… that, he couldn’t shake.
That was why those words–I’m sorry–had slipped out of him <b>so </b>suddenly.
But even he knew… a simple apology wasn’t nearly enough to make up for it.
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Though the trial had ended, the livestream chat was still buzzing, the screen flooded withments.
“That’s it? It just… stopped?”
“So anticlimactic… we didn’t even get a verdict.”
“Guess we’ll have to wait for the next session.”
“Please, someone go investigate Thomas properly. Don’t let the real criminal walk.”
“I want to fast–forward to the ending! This cliffhanger is torture!”
“I suddenly feel really bad for Asher… him and his mom both. They look so lost.”
“I just hope the judge gives everyone the justice they deserve. Please…”
This high–profile trial naturally blew up on Twitter too–dominating the trending list.
Out of the top ten trending topics, nine were rted to the trial.
Asher, Jolene, Sarah, Jean, Thomas-
Every one of their names was up there.