So I received a guest review and the guest offered a suggestion with how I write chapters to which I have decided to try out. I'm sure you all will figure it out haha
Anyway heads up this is a very short chapter and I leave a little "cliffhanger" at the end :)
RPOV
It was the defense's turn to call up witnesses on behalf of Jesse but for some reason they didn't stand up and they didn't call anyone. It was weird, the only reason I could think of for them not to call anyone was if their witnesses had decided not to take the stand.
I kept looking between them and the judge and could clearly see the judge was getting annoyed at waiting around. "Is the defense going to call upon their witnesses?"
The defense looked up, "Yes your honor, I've just mixed up my notes and am looking for the names."
The judge frowned. And I didn't blame them, how an earth could they mix up their notes. Before anything else could be said the doors to the courtroom opened and in walked a guy dressed in a suit, he walked right up behind the defense and as the defense turned around he whispered something. The defense did not look happy whatever it was about.
After the guy had walked out the courtroom, the defense stood up. "Your honor, unfortunately the defense witnesses are not willing to take the stand or make a statement for this case."
"Very well," the judge looked over to Detective Petrov, "Call your final witness please."
Detective Petrov stood, "We call Rosemarie Hathaway to the stand."
Dimitri squeezed my hand as I stood shakily. I took deep breathes as I walked towards the stand, making sure I didn't look towards Jesse.
I slowly took the stand and turned towards the courtroom. "Rosemarie Hathaway, please raise your right hand, Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"
"I do."
Staring across the courtroom was actually scarier than I thought it would be. I just had to keep reminding myself that once this was over I never had to see Jesse again. The defense stood up first to question me which kind of made sense to me because then Detective Petrov could set the story straight before the recess.
"Miss Hathaway, when did you start your relationship with Mr Zeklos?"
"Honestly I can't remember the exact date because we never celebrated anniversaries but I think it was roughly when I was 15 or 16."
"When did it turn into a sexual relationship?"
"Not that I think it's anyone's business in this courtroom but it wasn't until roughly around when I was 16."
"Was he the first guy you slept with?"
"No he wasn't, I slept with another guy before I started dating Jesse."
"Was it always consensual?"
"To start with yes it was, but after a while it wasn't always consensual. Sometimes he wouldn't take no for an answer, usually when no one else was around."
"Were you aware of the other females Mr Zeklos was involved with?"
"No I wasn't. Not until today."
"Right. Why did you stay with him for so long if he was having non-consensual sex and physically abusing you?"
"I thought I was in love. He wasn't my first boyfriend but he definitely was my first serious relationship. I thought he loved me and to begin with I thought that was normal but once Lissa noticed the constant messaging I realised it wasn't normal. Plus I was scared of what he would do if I tried to leave him."
"So did you decide leave him before or after you found you were pregnant?"
