My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 249

The Council members conferted quietly. Then Madeline spoke again.

“Grace Trent. Please approach to provide testimony.”

I stood on shaking legs. Connor squeezed my hand once before releasing it. I walked to the center position-standing a few feet from where Courtney sat.

“Miss Trent,” Madeline said formally. “Please describe the knife attack in your own words.”

I did. Told them about finding Connor with Courtney. About the mate bond recognition. About returning to the garden hours later to find Courtney attacking with a silver blade.

“Connor took the knife,” I said. “Put himself between us. Took a silver wound protecting me from a blade that was aimed at my chest. If he hadn’t moved-” I stopped. “If he hadn’t moved, I’d be dead.”

“And your response to Miss Vex’s guilty plea?” Madeline asked. “To her confession about providing intelligence to the Preservation Front?”

I looked at Courtney. Really looked at her. Saw the guilt and grief and self-destruction written across her too-thin face.

“I’m angry,” I said honestly. “About the knife attack. About the schedule. About-about all of it. Courtney made choices that put my life in danger. Put my whole family in danger. She helped terrorists plan an assault that could have killed people I love.”

“Do you believe she deserves punishment?” Christopher asked.

“Yes. But-“I paused. “But I also think-I think she’s already punishing herself more than any Council sentence could. She looks-she looks like she’s dying from guilt. And I don’t-” I stopped. “I don’t know what justice looks like here. I just know that destroying her completely doesn’t undo what she did. Doesn’t make me safer. Doesn’t-doesn’t help anyone.”

Madeline studied me carefully. “Miss Trent, are you advocating for leniency?”

“I’m advocating for-context. For acknowledging that Courtney was eighteen and manipulated and trying to make better choices eventually even though she’d already made terrible ones.” I looked at Courtney again. “I’m advocating for consequences that actually rehabilitate instead of just punish. Because-because that’s what integration is supposed to mean. Second chances. Growth. The possibility that people can change.”

“Even people who attacked you with silver weapons?”

“Even them. If they’re genuinely trying to change.” I paused. “Courtney gave intelligence that saved lives. Including possibly mine. She betrayed her father to stop terrorism. She’s-she’s eighteen years old and destroyed by guilt and I don’t think making

r her more destroyed serves anyone. Including me.”

After I finished, the Council dismissed us for deliberation. Connor pulled me into his arms immediately.

“That was-Grace, that was incredible,” he said. “You just advocated for Courtney. After everything she did.”

“I advocated for fair consequences. There’s a difference.” I leaned against him. “Connor, she looks awful. Like she’s given up. And I just-I couldn’t sit there demanding harsh punishment when she’s already falling apart.”

“You’re better than I am. I wanted them to throw the book at her.”

“Part of me did too. Still does, maybe.” I pulled back to look at his face. “But Connor, integration means actually believing people can change. Actually giving them chances to do better. Even when they’ve hurt us.”

“That’s very mature.”

“That’s very tired of extremism and revenge and cycles of violence.” I kissed him softly. “I want Courtney to face consequences. But I also want–I want her to have the possibility of a future. Of becoming someone better than who she was when she attacked

me.”

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The Council deliberated for three hours. When they called us back, Courtney looked-terrified. But also resigned. Like she’d accepted whatever was coining.

“Courtney Vex.” Madelinestood. “The Council has considered your guilty plea, your testimony, the victim impact statements, and the testimony provided by Alpha Jerenty Trent and Lord Castellan regarding your cooperation. We have reached a decision regarding consequences.”

The chamber went silent.

“You are hereby sentenced to five years supervised rehabilitation under the custody of an integration pack to be determined by the Council. During this period, you will participate in mandatory counseling, perform community service focused on integration education, and submit to regular monitoring to ensure compliance.”

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