Bloomington School "Have you heard? Yvonne is dead," someone said. "What happened?" someone else asked, their voice tinged with confusion. Evalyn, who had overheard the conversation, frowned in puzzlement as well. The person standing next to her and who had started the discussion was eager to explain. "You know Myles, right? He thought the police wouldn't find the body and couldn't charge him with murder. The man even had the audacity to proclaim his innocence, acting as if he were some kind of victim. The sheer shamelessness is unbelievable." "He must have thought the cops were completely incompetent. But guess what? Late last night, they finally found the bodies in Mount Vernon. Not just one, there were over a dozen, and one of them was Yvonne."Another added, lowering their voice to a somber tone, "I heard from my uncle, who works in the police department, that Yvonne's body was covered in wounds. Her legs and limbs were all broken. She died in such a gruesome way." The group listening fell silent. A collective intake of breath echoed among them. After all, Yvonne wasn't some stranger, they had all known her. The news hit harder than it would have if it had been about someone else. "I can't believe Yvonne ended up tangled up with Myles," someone murmured, shaking their head. Another voice chimed in, laced with judgment, "Isn't it said that the women who get involved with Myles are all gold diggers? Maybe Yvonne was…" The sentence trailed off, but the implication was clear, leaving an uncomfortable silence in its wake. "Let's not speak ill of the dead," someone finally said, breaking the tension. "It's over now. Let her rest in peace."Evalyn let out a sigh, her voice tinged with regret. "I never would've thought Yvonne would meet such a terrible end." Seraphina stood nearby, remaining silent. Just then, a figure rushed past them and bumped into her. It was Molly, with a frantic expression. She barely glanced up before muttering a hasty apology and scurrying away, her head bowed low. Evalyn watched her retreating figure, and a flicker of disdain crossed her face. "Back in school, Molly was the one who bullied Yvonne the worst. She used to torment her all the time. And now that she's heard the news, she's panicking? Who would've thought she'd be such a coward. Yvonne's death wasn't her doing, so what's she so scared of?" Yet, as she said those words, it was clear: Molly was terrified. Upon hearing that Yvonne had been killed by Myles, she was paralyzed with fear. She couldn't stop blaming herself. If it hadn't been for her own orders, if she hadn't instructed Yvonne to get close to Myles' female companion, Yvonne wouldn't have ended up in his sights, let alone suffered such a tragic fate. The weight of that guilt now bore down on her, filling her with dread. But what terrified her even more was the possibility that others might uncover her involvement. … The case was particularly heinous, its implications stirring widespread public outrage. With solid evidence in hand, the courts moved swiftly, and a trial was scheduled at record speed. On the day of the trial, the courthouse was surrounded by a sea of people. Police officers worked tirelessly to maintain order amidst the chaos. Journalists and independent media flocked to the scene, vying to be the first to capture breaking details. Meanwhile, the victims' families stood together, grief-stricken and dressed in solemn black or white attire. Their muffled cries filled the air as they waited for the proceedings to begin. When Myles was brought into the courtroom, someone suddenly stood up and hurled a rotten egg that struck Myles in the face. Immediately, yellow yolk dripped down his face. That single egg seemed to spark an avalanche. The courtroom erupted as spectators began pelting him with whatever they could grab such as stones, shoes, filthy socks, and even decaying fish. Court officers rushed to intervene, but the furious victims' families were impossible to control. Suddenly, a loud, commanding voice from a fat man bellowed from the back. "Move aside!" The sheer authority in the shout caused heads to turn and saw a man emerged, carrying a wooden bucket in one hand. As he made his way forward, an unbearable stench wafted through the air. The court officers, sensing trouble, quickly stepped aside. Myles, confined to the defendant's box, had nowhere to run. Splash! Without hesitation, the man tipped the bucket over. The contents, which were feces and urine, poured down in one grotesque deluge, drenching Myles from head to toe. A vile stench immediately permeated the room, and he was stunned.