As George was led past Teresa, his eyes immediately turned red. He called out in a choked voice, "Teresa, help me. Please, help me."


    Teresa didn''t turn to look at him, but Yvonne saw that her eyes were also slightly red. She clearly still felt something for him.


    Teresa was a hopeless romantic. Even though George had betrayed her, it was obvious she wasn''t over him.


    The trialsted all morning. In the end, George was sentenced to seven years in prison for tax evasion, moneyundering, bribery, and fraudulent ounting.


    Yvonne''s expression remained calm upon hearing the verdict. It wasn''t a surprise. The evidence they had wasn''t enough to put George away for life.


    Sandra was sitting not far from Yvonne. Their eyes met, and Sandra''s disappointment was palpable.


    After the trial, Yvonne and Sandra went to the hospital to visit Marina.


    Marina was the same as always, lying silently in the hospital bed, pale and emaciated.


    When they entered the room, a nurse was giving Marina a sponge bath. Being bedridden for so long, she needed frequent cleaning and turning to prevent bedsores.


    "Give me the cloth. You can take a break," Yvonne said, sitting by the bed. She took the washcloth from the nurse and gently began to wipe the back of Marina''s hand.


    As she wiped, Yvonne spoke about George''s case, telling her he had been sentenced to seven years.


    But Marina, on the bed, showed no response.


    "She''s in a vegetative state. Talking to her is a waste of breath," Sandra said bitterly from behind Yvonne. "If she hadn''t been so foolish as to drop the charges against George back then, he would''ve gotten more than just seven years. That scum deserves to be executed."


    Just as Sandra finished speaking, Yvonne distinctly felt Marina''s fingers twitch.


    Thinking she had imagined it, she nced down, only to see Marina''s hand trembling slightly but persistently.


    ...


    Yvonne and Sandra didn''t leave the hospital until evening.


    Sandra was emotionally charged, her cheeks flushed.


    "I''m in a good mood today. How about we go to a bar for a couple of drinks?" Sandra suggested.


    "Not yet. It''s not toote to celebrate when the case is truly settled," Yvonne replied, her gaze fixed on a bus stop in the distance.


    "I''d like to take a walk by myself."


    "Alright, but don''t be back toote. I''m cooking tonight, making a few of your favorite dishes. We''ll eat when you get back," Sandra said.


    Yvonne nodded and started walking toward the bus stop.


    She didn''t have to wait long before a bus pulled up. Yvonne got on and chose a seat in the very back.


    The bus swayed along its route, and after more than a dozen stops, it pulled up in front of the police academy.


    Yvonne got off and stood at the school gate, tilting her head back to look at the imposing police insignia above it.


    Unlike regr universities, the police academy wasn''t open to the public.


    Yvonne couldn''t get in, so she could only stand outside, gazing longingly at her former alma mater.


    She had spent four years here. The library, the cafeteria, the training grounds they all held so many memories. Her former ssmates were now all esteemed police officers, while she alone was deft behind in time.


    Just then, a woman in her forties walked out. She wasn''t in uniform but her sharp, disciplined demeanor " instantly marked her as someone with a military background.


    "Professor Martinez," Yvonne called out instinctively.


    April Martinez stopped and looked toward Yvonne.


    Yvonne was wearing a long, pale pink dress, her long ck hair


    flowing freely She Jooked qu


    young. As an actress, she wore a ck face mask in public.