"Members of the jury, you have heard all of the testimony concerning this case. It is now up to you to determine the facts. You and you alone are the judges of the facts. Once you decide what facts the evidence proves, you must then apply The Law.

According to Madtown Statutes Chapter 720 of the Criminal Offenses § 5/12-34.5.

Inducement to commit suicide under paragraph (a)(1) when the other person commits suicide as a direct result of the coercion is a Class 2 felony.

Inducement to commit suicide under paragraph (a)(2) when the other person commits suicide as a direct result of the assistance provided is a Class 4 felony.

Inducement to commit suicide under paragraph (a)(1) when the other person attempts to commit suicide as a direct result of the coercion is a Class 3 felony.

Inducement to commit suicide under paragraph (a)(2) when the other person attempts to commit suicide as a direct result of the assistance provided is a Class A misdemeanor.

So if Defendant No. 1, Theodore James, or Defendant No. 2, Timothy Oliver Pete Williams VI, or Defendant No. 3, Jon Kenzo Yamanouchi, or Defendant No. 4, Matthew Perez, or Defendant No. 5, Kidrey St. Creed, or all of them, unlawfully contributed to the extreme emotional distress of Mr. Kevin Grace that led to his decision to commit suicide, then the defendants are liable for the victim's decision to end his life.

Bailiff, please give the jury five minutes to deliberate."

"Yes, Judge."

The jurors left the room to deliberate, and the courtroom fell into dead silence. All were waiting anxiously for the jurors.

Upon their return, the Judge asked, "Have you reached a verdict?

"We have, Your Honor."

The Judge remained stern, "Will the defendants please stand."

Four out of the five defendants noticeably stood up with their lawyers. The last defendant didn't budge and remained sitting in the middle of the group, uncaring to his surroundings and playing with his Switch.

The judge let him be. "You may read the verdict."

The Jury foreperson read, "We, the jury, in the case of The Grace Family versus Mr. Theodore James, Mr. Timothy Oliver Pete Williams VI, Mr. Jon Kenzo Yamanouchi, Mr. Matthew Perez, and Mr. Kidrey St. Creed, find the defendants NOT GUILTY of the charge of murder of Mr. Kevin Grace. Mr. Grace took his own life of his own will. It's ruled out as suicide."

"Nooooooo!!!"

Mary and her mother's cries were barely heard across the courtroom, overpowered by the loud cheers and claps from the defendants' team.

The Judge concluded the trial, "Thank you, jury, for your service today. Court is adjourned."

Not Guilty.

Sandra was standing outside the courtroom. At the last minute, she heard the verdict as well. She gritted her teeth at this. She, too, couldn't believe the outcome of the case. But deep inside, she had already warned herself that this was going to happen. She should have prepared for the inevitable.

She was just standing there, frozen. She couldn't even bring herself to step inside and console her crying mother and sister. She was shocked. But she could still hear her family sobbing and crying 'No.'

Her brother's death was ruled a suicide. The authorities claimed her dear brother Kevin took his own life.

This statement alone was an insult to him. An insult to the life and family he left behind. They would never get over this. It was a lie. It wasn't suicide but murder.

How could they?!

Sandra was angry. She was beyond enraged. She felt like she could hurt anyone at that very moment. And all those who had hurt her brother were in one place, inside that room. If only...if only she could end their lives as easily as they had ended her brother's.

The door opened, and she looked up. It revealed the very people who had hurt her brother. The same dead looks on their expressions as in the private investigator's profiles she had received today. The reason why her brother took his own life was because of them. Because of them, her brother was no longer here.

'They're too powerful. They own the town.' Bowing her head, rage in her eyes, she was ready to attack.

Someone bumped her shoulder. He didn't stop nor apologize. He barely side-glanced at her, a frown on his face, before resuming playing with his Nintendo Switch.

This was Kidrey St. Creed, aka God. The leader of the group. Also, the leader of the fraternity in the school where her dead brother used to go. Kidrey St. Creed's family connections knew no boundaries in this town. He was also known as the guy who had all the luck in the world. She didn't understand how, but she heard this guy got away with everything. Thanks to his family, huge in politics.

Also, this was the person who was mainly behind all the suffering her brother had to endure when he was alive.

He was the leader.

Sandra knew him. She had to know them all.

"Move."

A cold voice.

Sandra recognized the owner of the voice as well. TOP Williams. His family ruled the town. His family had been in the police force for centuries. Disgraced officers or not, supposed to be the protectors of the town, but Sandra knew his family had dark secrets and connections to the underground world too.

The other three, Jon Yamanouchi, Mateo Perez, and Ted James, were also equally connected in this Madtown. This group was influential enough in this town to do anything they wanted and get away with it. They could even sway the justice system to their side.

They high-fived each other, which angered Sandra. Were they celebrating winning the case? When it was about them hurting someone to the point of suicide?

Then they crowded around Kidrey St. Creed and looked over his shoulder to watch him play.

Then they left.

But she was still standing there, planted on her feet. It was easy to say she could kill them right here, right now, but it was entirely different when facing them.

She became scared, shaking even. And she was surprised by this. She thought she could run to them and hurt them right there, but no...

The quintet's presence was intimidating. It intimidated her. Scared her. Kept her heart beating faster.

But still...one thing was for sure, one thing was certain.

They might have won today, but what they missed was that this time, they messed with the wrong person.

Her heart was burning with rage and sorrow inside. There was no turning back from this.

----

That fateful night after they got home, no one spoke of anything. The mood was dark and heavy. Everyone was tired. Sandra went to bed first, not to sleep but to think.

She spent the whole night thinking, just sitting on her bed, staring into space while her mind was in chaos. Countless thoughts were running through her mind.

She couldn't sleep. She had finally met them. They didn't know her, but she knew them. Yesterday's events played in her mind over and over again.

Receiving the report from the PI. Learning the backgrounds of the Mad KingZ. The Not Guilty verdict. Kidrey bumping her, TOP's cold voice. The Mad KingZ high-fiving each other. And looking unbothered...even happy.

And she wasn't. Her family wasn't. They would never be happy. The death of Kevin without bringing it to justice would forever loom over their heads like a dark cloud that would never go away.

Sandra raked her hair, thinking deeply. She had to do something.

Then she stood up. She went to one particular room she had refused to enter ever since coming back home.

Kevin's room.

She wasn't ready to be reminded so much of him before, to be haunted by his memories in that room. She was afraid she would break down.

Sandra opened the door to his old room. Indeed, the scent and untouched linens, and the overall look of the room haunted her with memories of her dead brother. She scanned her eyes around the room and, even though she felt like crying because she missed him so much, Sandra didn't shed a tear this time.

Instead, she formed a fist as she scanned the room one more time before stepping out onto the balcony.

She fished out her phone and scrolled for a certain number. It might have been too early for this, with the sun only starting to peek out, but she dialed the number.

"Mr. President, it's me, Sandra Grace. I would like to talk about your offer."