The Trial
Over the ensuing weeks, Roger devoted countless hours to his adopted daughter, meticulously preparing her for the impending court case. Initially, he wooed her with honeyed words and an endless cascade of presents. But as her fear of him remained palpable, his approach shifted ominously, his words now laced with veiled threats, his demeanor changing from that of a doting father to a menacing figure.
The day of reckoning had arrived – the court case. Roger was poised, ready to play his hand. Jasmine, his puppet, was primed to parrot his every word. Janet, once vibrant, was now a shadow of her former self, a victim of melancholy since the police’s unwelcome visit. Roger reveled in her misery, confident he could convince the judge of her maternal ineptitude. He anticipated her counter-claims of abuse, but he was prepared to parry each one.