Amber's P.O.V

5 Day's Later...

"Everyone, please rise for the accused Finnick Steffi Jones." Everyone in the courtroom raised from their seats and watched Finnick stumble to the stand in his bright orange jumpsuit.

Finnick never told me he had a middle name? Probably thought it was too embarrassing to say.

Finnick stood proudly with his head held high. I was currently sat with everyone else in the courtroom, with my parents and brothers all beside me, holding both my hands and soothing my raging anxiety.

I stare with a mixture of emotions at the back of Finnick's head, it was like he knew because he slowly turned his head round to meet my eyes, smirking widely and mouthing 'Love you too' to me. I felt disgusted and frowned deep, trying to hide behind Jason's towering body, Jase seemed to notice my uncomfortableness and looked to see what was bothering me, he saw Finnick's smirk and growled at him, sending sharp daggers in his direction.

Finnick didn't even acknowledge him and turned back around to the judge, seated high with a huge feeling of power and dominance he radiated around the room.

If I was up there now and staring at the judge, I would feel the need to courtesy and kneel at his feet, the power would be too suffocating to stand and the need to bow down to him would be overwhelming.

I needed to rid these thoughts because I was due to stand up there soon and I didn't need to embarrass myself to a few hundred people.

"We are all here today to witness the trial of Mr Finnick Steffi Jones. Mr Jones has committed various unlawful acts, harming and mistreating a young underage woman named as Miss Amber Rose Hutton. I will be reviewing all classified evidence against the defendant and conclude to a punishment I see fit for the accused and bring justice to Miss Hutton and her family. Mr Jones has the right to be defended by his defence attorney and has a right to speak freely when commanded by me. Mr Jones, do you wish to speak freely and give your side of the events that took place, between the timeframe of yours and Miss Hutton's relationship?" The scary judge concluded, looking down at him condescendingly. Finnick turned back to me with a smile and nodded his head.

"Yes, judge." My face paled and I was on the verge of peeing my pants.

"Very well, speak."

Finnick looked so relaxed and had a whole different aura since I last saw him. He was much more laid back and calm, almost as if he didn't care and would be fine with getting a life sentence in prison.

He stood up with a white piece of paper in his hand, ready to speak in the silent courtroom.

"Me and Amber's relationship was...rocky. We would have our good days and our bad days, like any married couple..."

I felt Isaac and Jason vibrate with anger beside me as we listened to Finnick's statement.

"When we first met, we clicked instantly. She was perfect in my eyes and she seemed to like me too. It all started in the coffee shop when we started talking properly for the first time, Amber was telling me how rough her life was at home and how much she wanted to run away from her family-"

"THAT IS NOT TRUE!" Dylan boomed from the crowd, he sprung from his seat so fast his chair flipped. The judge looked over at him with a warning glare.

"Sit down Mr Hutton, the more you react the worse it will be for yourself and Miss Hutton." The judge scolded him. He sat back down reluctantly, getting a slap from mom that looked absolutely mortified bedside him.

"I really appreciate not being interrupted.... Anyway, Amber and I had a special connection from the moment we met. I do admit, we did do some drugs but Amber agreed on doing them and I never forced her into it. I'd never force her into anything."

A collection of angry grunts and shocked gasps left my family, including me. That was a blatant LIE and I am not going to let him fool me like that.

My body suddenly filled with this burning confidence for the first time in my life, I had a burning desire to burn Finnick to the ground and pee on his aches. He was really going to get it when I speak soon.

"I believe we have heard enough." The judge shouted, silencing everyone and the courtroom was suddenly filled with more tension than before, then I realised...it was my turn to stand.

"Now I would like to hear from the victim, Miss Amber Hutton." The judged declared, clearing his throat and gesturing to the stand.

I got up from my seat and looked at the stand, straitening my burgundy dress I walk over, making sure it was quick and smooth without tripping once because knowing me...I definitely would trip in a situation as serious as this.

I approach the stand and adjust the microphone to my mouth level, opening up my speech and clearing my throat.

"Finnick and I started off great, I believed he was a great guy and I really got along with him. Finnick lied when he said I wanted to do drugs, I never intended to smoke but Finnick pressured me to smoke with him, telling me it was the first thing to do so we can be free together. I smoked with him because I was blinded by love, I wanted to take a break from my normal life and do something different." I said, playing with the sleeve on my cardigan. I look over at my lawyer and see her smiling encouragingly, stacking her evidence in a neat pile, ready to roast Finnick.

The judge sat up in his chair and adjusted his glasses on the end of his nose.

"Has Mr Jones ever laid his hands on you in an abusive way?" He asked. I glanced over at Finnick with distaste in my eyes, seeing the smug look in his eyes but his whole body showed anger and impatience, knowing this is going to take a while.

"Yes, on multiple occasions."

***

A very long hour later we are all standing impatiently and nervously, all waiting for the judge to review all the evidence we gave him and Finnick's useless defence attorney, giving little evidence to back him up. At one point his attorney looked like he was about to defend me, looking absolutely devastated and ready to walk out the building.

I look over at my family that are on the edges of their seats, waiting to hear what the judge has to say and what punishment he sees fit for the man I despise most in this entire universe.

"SILENCE EVERYBODY!" The judge shouted, his croaky voice boomed around the walls and made everyone's lips sealed with fear and nervousness. I look up from the stand I'm leaning on, looking up at the judge sitting high and proud with great authority and the ability to sentence anyone to the pits of hell for however long he wants.

"From the evidence collected that I have read and reviewed, I have come to a verdict."

Everyone is looking up at the judge with wide eyes. All my family were on the edges of their seats, leaning forward with longing and wish in their eyes for this basted to rot for life behind bars, never seeing the light of day again.

I look up like a lost puppy being left behind by its mother, tears threatening to fall any moment and the desperate need to curl up into a ball on the floor and hide forever.

All our ears perk up at the judge who is now sitting forward, ready to open his mouth and decide Finnick's fate forever.

"Mr Jones is sentenced to ten years in prison, for rape, domestic violence, arson, possession and distribution of class A drugs and assault. Please escort this prisoner out guards!" The judge screamed. Shooting up from his chair and leaving gracefully. Satisfied he has put away another lowlife behind bars.

I immediately run and engulf all my family in a group hug, all crying our hears out in relief and just releasing the stressful tears that have been built up for a long time.

"My baby, it's all going to be okay now!" Mom whispers beside me, crying into Dylan's Gucci jacket that probably cost thousands.

We didn't care if we looked stupid, hugging in the middle of a courtroom and crying our eyes out in joy.

But we didn't care.

We couldn't give a damn what people thought about us.

I was hugging Isaac when I felt a dark presence near me, I look over Isaac's shoulder to see My now criminal ex-boyfriend, in handcuffs and being dragged out the room by his arms, thrashing around and screaming verbal abuse at them, simply doing their jobs.

I look at him with pure hatred. He seemed to feel my stares and look right back at me, with a mixture of emotions flooding his evil eyes that are glaring into mine.

He was almost out the door when I see him utter the words...

"I'm coming back for you."

*****

There is one chapter left!!!

This book is officially wrapping up and I don't know how to feel about it yet, it hasn't quite sunk in for me yet.

I hope you have enjoyed this chapter and the epilogue will be posted soon!

-Mari