The Traps of Black Swan

'Splash'

'Gasp.'

Leon jerked awake from sleep, gasped to catch for air when icy water splashed on his face. Before he could grasp what was happening, a few people started beating him with a cane, in a way, it was giving him pain without tearing his skin.

He groaned, screamed in pain but the cops continued to thrash him. They also made sure he will be able to attend the court trial the next day.

They were searching for Leon when a sedan stopped in front of the station and the young man reported as he brought Leon back and he found Leon at a junction.

At dawn, clothes wet, body trembling in cold and unbearable pain, Leon had curled in the corner of the room when all the cops left. He was drifting on and off to consciousness. It somehow reminded him of Aarvi aka Ava Kelly who was forcefully woken up every time she was losing consciousness.

The major difference was that what he did to her was illegal and what she was doing to him was legal. Before he could doze off bearing the pain, it was time to attend the final hearing of the first case against Aarvi Evans.

----

In Courtroom,

There was another surprise waiting for Leon over there. James Crowford wasn't there anymore. His assistant stated that James was hospitalized. Nobody knows if it's true or false.

When the session started, as a formality, Judge Rowlatt asked the defendant's lawyer if he had anything to report. James's assistant brought up Leon's anger issue and submitted a certificate. "Your honor, my client is suffering from an intermittent explosive disorder. Hence medically, his actions are due to his mental health condition. He was triggered by Aarvi Evans meddling in a company affair. Thus his reaction was strong when the cops went to arrest him." That would decrease the prison sentence.

The court fell into pin-drop silence. Everyone looked at each other because the mental condition grants no punishment to the culprit.

Nikun stood up, "I object, Your Honor."

Justice Rowlatt was used to Nikun proving the defendant as wrong at every turn. It was like Nikun knew every move of the defendant's side beforehand. He was so accurate and had perfect timing., "Objection sustained."

James's assistant sat down, Nikun thanked and went forward as he requested, "I would like to request Psychologist Ford to the witness box."

Leon had no strength to look anywhere. Yet he heard the name and his pupils grew large. Leon realized why his psychologist has changed abruptly with a change in the treatment. Because Aaron had a hand in that.

A middle-aged man who was sitting in a corner stood up and made his way. Nikun questioned after Ford took an oath, "Doctor Ford, could you tell us about Leon Harmon's condition?"

Thus everyone heard Leon's condition was in control and provided the test certificates. "Your honor, I worked as Leon Harmon's counselor and therapist. Anger isn't a disorder. If that emotion exceeds the normalized state, we call that a disorder. Leon Harmon's condition wasn't uncontrollable and he is in good condition after the treatment. These are the before and after test results of treatment."

It didn't end there, Nikun asked the captain who was in charge of the case, "Captain, did Leon ever lose his anger and attack you all while you were interrogating?"

The captain promptly responded, "It never happened, Your Honor. Leon Harmon didn't cooperate with the interrogation and stayed silent all the time."

"Thank you, Captain, " Nikun concluded, "As we can see, Your Honor, if Leon Harmon could be provoked and act so strongly, why was he so cool and silent while being questioned, accused, and…" He turned to Leon and added, "Beaten. Shouldn't he attack us all if he had an intermittent explosive disorder?... That's all, Your Honor." 

Leon: "..."

He was flabbergasted at the realization. If he had fought everyone, hit them all, he would have been hospitalized due to mental imbalance. Nevertheless, he didn't attack the cops because it was illegal. He didn't want any more cases on him. 

He was sure if he lost his anger, now or later, they would beat him to death and wouldn't believe he had anger management issues. Wait, does he still have the anger control issue? Leon wasn't sure.

Thus, the last try to control the damage was invalidated just like that.

After silence for a few more minutes, Judge Rowlatt, announced the verdict of the case, "After thorough review and consideration of the records submitted in three trials of the case XXXXX, the court finds Leon Harmon guilty in an attempt to kidnap and the intentional offensive action against Aarvi Evans. Considering the identity of Aarvi Evans, under the act of 43c the court has decided to imprison Leon Harmon for seven years. There will be no penalty as Aarvi Evans hasn't demanded her emotional and mental disturbance caused by Leon Harmon's actions."

The judge paused and looked at Leon in the witness box, "The court rules out the right to re-appeal for the case XXXXX."

He didn't stop there. He placed his arms on the desk and looked at Leon. Recalling all the cases on Leon, "In my entire career of thirty plus years, I have seen numerous cases, you name I have known it. Yet, I have never found a man who is so sick, monstrous, despicable… They never end. I know this is just the beginning, I couldn't imagine how you would have wrecked the country, innocent women if that lady hadn't come up. You might be just imprisoned for this case, you aren't going to live long. I guess I will retire with your case and live in relief knowing scums like you aren't out in the wild."

"Court adjourned." He ended the case and left the court.

The first case - checked

"Ohhh…" Aarvi looked at Leon who wasn't shouting or screaming. He looked at her with a hateful gaze before he was dragged away. She looked behind at the Harmon family. Although they wanted Leon to be punished, they weren't happy. There was a relief, yet sadness lingered in their eyes, after all, they grew up with Leon.

She should have been happy at the verdict but looking at the Harmon family, she couldn't even bring a smile to her face. Though Sean forced a smile at her, she couldn't return it.

Nikun didn't look happy either. He was excited to fight against his mentor side by side till the end. It seems like he was indirectly giving up on the case, trying to save his image.

Aaron watched his wife, rubbed her arms, "Sadness flies away on the wings with time." Aarvi turned to him, "It's better than suffering every day and living in fear."

Aarvi hummed with a nod. They will cope with it and she did what she felt right. She wasn't apologetic for it, a bit of sympathy for the Harmon family.

Shawn waited for them, before rushing to them, "Go go, grab some rest. I am playing tonight. Let's party tonight."

Aaron shook his head in resignation while two laughed hearing DJ Prince. They needed a little break. "Yes, President Rivas…" Aarvi followed him out.

However, she didn't tell Shawn and Nikun that she and Aaron were going to meet the man who faked the attack on her and Aaron at the hospital and kidnapped the Lane family in the name of Leon Harmon.

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