Claim Me Captain! I'm Addicted to You!-Chapter 436: Verdict (2)

The courtroom had barely recovered from Raymond Davis’s verdict—death sentence—when the clerk repositioned the microphone, inhaled shakily, and looked down at the second stack of documents. The air changed. It wasn’t just tense.

It felt sentient.

Like the walls themselves were holding their breath.

Nancy Baskin stood between two officers, her wrists cuffed, her face ghost-pale. Her usually perfect hair clung to her temples from sweat. Her knees visibly shook beneath her after hearing Raymond’s sentence, a suit chosen not for confidence but for the cameras.

This case wasn’t just the trial of the decade.

It was televised.

Half the country watched from their living rooms. The other half watched from their phones.

And everyone inside that courtroom felt it—the shift—that this was the moment everything would crack open.

The judge gave a single nod. "Proceed."

The courtroom clerk adjusted the papers and began reading.

"Defendant Nancy Baskin, you are charged and found guilty of the following crimes:

Accessory to murder in the death of David Lewis.

Perjury, for knowingly providing false statements intended to frame Nicholas Knight for the said murder.

Attempted administration of illegal substances with the intent to incapacitate Nicholas Knight.

Second-degree murder, for causing the fall of Georgia Lewis overboard and willfully abandoning her to die.

Contracting and facilitating murder, for ordering the death of cruise ship crew member Martha Hobbs, to conceal evidence of attempted murder.

Kidnapping of Georgia Lewis-Knight and Katherine "Katie" Lewis-Knight.

Prison escape.

Arson by proxy, for instructing Jay Gambino’s men to set fire to the Lewis residence, resulting in the severe assault and hospitalization of Wendy West."

Gasps rippled across the courtroom. Cameras flashed wildly from the press section. Some reporters’ hands flew to their mouths. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Nancy trembled harder. Her eyes darted around—first to the spectators, then to her parents. Her mother sobbed uncontrollably while her father looked ashen, frozen in place.

Oliver, sitting at the prosecution’s table, straightened his back. His jaw tightened—but his eyes shone with quiet pride. He had fought tooth and nail for this moment, and it showed.

Benjamin’s fingers curled around Prudence’s hand. He exhaled in relief. Vicky pressed both hands to her mouth, tears spilling freely. Liam’s eyes were hard—victory mixed with a pain that could never fully heal.

Ella squeezed Georgia’s shoulders from behind. She had waited years to see justice for Georgia’s brother, David.

Georgia sat frozen. Nick’s hand enveloped hers, steadying her, grounding her, waiting for whatever storm might come next.

The clerk continued.

"Based on the evidence presented, testimonies given, and the severity, multiplicity, and premeditated nature of these crimes, the court finds the defendant..."

A pause.

A breath.

A thousand heartbeats held simultaneously.

"...guilty on all charges."

The judge leaned forward, stern, decision final.

"For the totality of your crimes, especially those leading to death, attempted murder, multiple kidnappings, coordinated violence, perjury, and arson resulting in grievous bodily harm..."

She paused deliberately, letting the silence stretch like a blade over the room.

"...the court hereby sentences you, Nancy Baskin, to death."

It detonated.

A collective gasp, louder than anything before, echoed through the courtroom.

Nancy’s knees buckled instantly.

Her scream tore through the room.

"No—NO! NO, PLEASE!"

Her face crumpled into agony. "MOM! DAD!"

Her mother tried to run toward her, but guards extended their arms, blocking her path.

Her father shouted, "Let me through—she’s my daughter!"

But no one moved. No one bent.

Nancy’s legs gave out and she sagged to the floor, sobbing violently.

"No... no... I can’t die... I CAN’T!" Her voice echoed off every surface.

She tried to stand, but her legs shook so uncontrollably she collapsed again. Her sobs became animalistic—raw, unfiltered fear.

Cameras zoomed in ruthlessly.

"Please—Georgia—GEORGIA!" Nancy lurched forward, dragging herself on her knees despite the officers’ grip.

"Stop her," one warned—But Georgia raised a trembling hand.

"It’s okay."

The officers hesitated... then loosened their hold.

Nancy collapsed right at Georgia’s feet, sobbing so hard the sound barely formed words.

"I’m sorry... I’m so sorry..." Her voice fractured. "I never meant to kill anyone... I just... I just wanted someone to love me."

Her shoulders shook violently.

"My parents—they were never home. I grew up with nannies who hated me. I was always alone—always wrong—always ignored. Raymond was the only one who ever looked at me, even if he only used me. I wanted him to choose me. Just once. Just once."

Her breath hitched. "And he chose YOU."

Nails dug into the flooring as she bent forward, forehead touching Georgia’s shoe.

"I was jealous. I was so jealous I lost myself. I didn’t mean for David to die—I just didn’t want him to stop me from being with Raymond. I didn’t want him to ruin my chance—my one chance—to matter."

The courtroom held its breath.

Georgia stared down at her, trembling.

Nick tensed beside her, ready to intervene. Officers waited for a signal. Ella and Vicky widened their eyes, watching Georgia’s face silently crumble.

Nancy reached for Georgia’s leg.

"I’m begging you—please—please forgive me—please don’t let them kill me—"

Georgia inhaled sharply, trying, trying to stay calm—

But something inside her snapped.

A broken laugh tore from her throat, disturbing, heartbreaking, disbelieving.

Everyone froze.

She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, still laughing—a sound that chilled the entire room.

"You’re funny," she whispered. "Funny... and absolutely pathetic."

Nancy looked up while still hugging Georgia’s legs.

The officers stepped closer—

Nick’s posture shifted, ready to shield her—

But Georgia didn’t need shielding.

She kicked Nancy away from her legs.

Then...

Her hand swept out so fast that Nancy didn’t see it coming.

*SLAP*

Nancy’s head snapped to the side.

*SLAP*

A second slap followed immediately—sharper, louder.

The sound cracked like a whip through the silent courtroom.

Gasps erupted.

Someone choked.

Even the judge didn’t speak.

Georgia leaned forward, voice trembling, not with fear.

With fury.

"Death is mercy for you, Nancy," she whispered, every word shaking. "If it were up to me, you’d suffer before the end. I want you beaten, assaulted, humiliated... You’d feel every ounce of pain you gave my brother. You’d feel the terror I felt when you pushed me into the ocean. You’d feel the hopelessness Wendy felt when your men assaulted her and burned my home."

*******

Thanks for the Golden Tickets!

KATHLEEN_COLL

Edna_R2679