Chapter 1 Would Rather Become Brain–Damaged Than Plead Guilty
Year 2050, Memory Court.
The girl in the defendant’s seat sat stiffly, her face blank and her eyes dull, staring straight ahead in a daze.
+8 Pearls
Her features were delicate, but her frail frame hinted at long–term malnutrition. Her exposed wrists were as thin as twigs, covered in scars.
The courtroom was packed, and the massive screen had a live chat window in the top right corner.
Nearly all of Dracovia was watching this livestream. After all, the girl on trial was Elsa Moore–the so–called “evil girl” who. three years ago, had set fire to Capital City Orphanage, caused the car accident that took her adoptive sister’s legs, and was even accused of attempting to murder her own biological parents and younger brother.
“We’re finally gonna see Elsa’s memories. She’s been appealing and denying everything all this time–let’s see how she lies her way out of this now!”
“Over a hundred kids were burned alive! Only two survived! And poor Quinn–she had such a bright future as a dancer, and Jnow she’s stuck in a wheelchair, all because of her!”
“Don’t forget about the Moore couple! They took Elsa in even after the mix–up. They raised her like their own, didn’t even mind she was half–deaf! And this is how she repays them?”
“I heard her birth mother was just a janitor. Low–class trash like that is rotten to the core. Maybe she’s the one who switched the babies on purpose!”
In the jury box, the Moore family glared at Elsa with eyes full of hatred–hatred so thick it almost felt tangible.
Mandy’s eyes were bloodshot, her expression wild with fury. “What’s the point of this trial? She should just die! Look what she’s done to our family… If I’d known she’d grow up to be such a monster, I would’ve ditched her as a baby!”
Her father Felix and her younger brother Peter spoke coldly, “There’s already irrefutable evidence for everything she did. This memory trial is just another stomach–turning farce. What’s the point?”
Memory trials were a new technology developed twenty years ago. By tapping into a person’s brainwaves, authorities could extract and project memories directly. Since its invention, any attempt at denial from a criminal had become a joke.
The presiding judge banged the gavel. “This trial was requested by the defendant herself. Please remain silent as we proceed. The bench will now present the defendant’s memories in accordance with each accusation filed by the prosecution”
“The trial begins now”
The Moore family froze
Memory extraction was lengthy and caused severe brain dainage. In some cases, the subject could even lose their memory forever and become a pol
Lisa really is insane she’d rather destroy her brain than plead guilty.
Per sherred “She thinks playing the victim will make us go easy on her? What a joke
The screen flickered to life
The judge’s your chord through the courtroom. The first charge filed agamist Elsa consens the debber ate baby switch carried out by her biological mother. Susan resulting in Quinn Moore being separated from her buth family and ensuring years of hardstrip
Since the involved parties were infants at the time, the memory fragments are fuzzy However, the general sequence of rts is still disc comble”
The faces if the Moors faily turned even colder.
The guident where Quinn had been switched at birth was their greatest regret Bring forced to relive it now was unbearable
Felip wrapped an arm around his wife, voice harsh “What’s the point of watching this? That Janitor switched the babies, and
12:24 PM P.
Chapter 1 Would Rather Become Brain–Damaged Than Plead Guilty
+8 Pearls
Quinn suffered so much. We chose not to go after that janitor. But Elsa? She’s completely heartless–targeting Quinn like that out of jealousy!”
The judge said nothing. The footage began to play.
The scene showed a few infants sleeping peacefully in the hospital nursery. One baby stood out–beautiful and angelic.
A plainly dressed woman walked in and gently picked up one of the infants, her eyes brimming with love.
The comments poured in.
“That’s the janitor, right? She picked up Quinn? Is she about to switch the babies?”
“Quinn was such a beautiful baby! A literal angel! She looked nothing like the others!”
But Mandy’s gaze stayed fixed on the baby in the bed next to the beautiful angel’s. Her eyes reddened.
“That’s my Quinn… Why didn’t I notice she’d been switched? She suffered so much because of it…”
“That bitch… If she wasn’t already dead, I’d make her pay just like Elsa!”
Only then did the audience realize–the baby in Susan’s arms was Elsa.
“Darling, my precious girl. Daddy and Grandma and Grandpa will be here soon to take us home-”
Susan kissed Elsa’s forehead. A voice called from outside the room: “Patient in Bed 39, come for your final checkup. If everything looks good, you’ll be discharged today.”
Susan replied with a soft “Okay,” and gently set the baby down before leaving the room.
Moments later, a shifty–eyed old woman hobbled in.
“Think you’re better than me just because you’ve got money? Gave birth to a useless girl and now you’re acting smug? Let’s see you act high and mighty when I toss your brat out!”
She cursed under her breath as she rifled through the babies‘ wristbands.
Her eyes landed on Quinn. She yanked off the band and picked the baby up, then walked right out.
Felix’s face turned pale, “Quinn!”
“Why is that woman taking my baby?! We don’t even know her!”
Mandy began trembling. Her voice cracked. “I remember now…”
“When I was in the hospital with Quinn, that woman’s grandson almost ran into me. I scolded him a little.. And she stole my child because of that?“!
“Then why did Elsa end up as my daughter…”
The video continued.
The Moore family’s nanny entered the nursery. Sering one baby missing and a lone wristband left behind, her face drained of color
“Where is the kid… Oh no. If Sir and Madam find out she’s gone, they’ll kill me!”
She turned to leave and look for the baby, but just then, Mandy’s voice rang out from the hallway. “Sharon, bring the baby- we’re going home!TM
The nanny panicked. Her lips trembled. “Yes, Madam. I’ll bring her right now!”
She scanned the room, made sure no one was watching, then picked up the remaining baby–Elsa. She slipped Quinn’s wristband onto her and hurried out of the room.
The Moore family sat frozen, speechless. The audience erupted.
12:24 PM P
Chapter 1 Would Rather Become Brain–Damaged Than Plead Guilty
+8 Pearls
“So Elsa’s mom didn’t switch the babies? That old woman took Quinn out of spite, and the nanny replaced her with Elsa to cover it up?”
“Now that you mention it, Elsa and her mom were both victims in this. They didn’t do anything wrong and still got torn apart.”
“Are you serious? Elsa grew up in a rich family with every privilege–she was raised as a princess! I’d call that hitting the jackpot! They should be grateful to the Moores!”
“Am I the only one wondering how Quinn ended up with Elsa’s mom?”
Even the Moore family turned to the judge. “Yeah, how did Quinn end up being raised by Elsa’s mom? Maybe they were in on it together!”
The judge struck the gavel again. “To clarify this accusation, we have retrieved additional memory fragments from other individuals. Please continue watching.”
Send Gifts
