"Just wait. She's about to get what's coming to her."
"She's just putting on a brave face before the inevitable."
The noise grew louder and louder until the judge had to bang her gavel to restore order.
"Silence in the court.
"For the sake of expediency, both parties must sign the agreement now."
Soon, an electronic document appeared before Jake and me.
His accusations were clear.
First, I had been unfilial, driving his mother to illness through my disrespect.
Second, I had bled him dry, forcing him to buy luxury items that had left him in debt.
Third, I had neglected our son, going on a trip while he was sick.
I signed without hesitation, while Jake hesitated.
His mother and sister urged him to sign it.
His mother whispered, "What are you afraid of? Sign it and make that bitch pay.
His sister echoed, "Yeah, she's done us wrong so many times. Just sign it."
Gritting his teeth, Jake finally signed the agreement.
And with that, I was fitted with the brainwave transmission system to extract my memories.
My past would now be broadcast on the courtroom screen for all to see.
The judge spoke again.
"The first charge: unfilial conduct toward the plaintiff's mother. The plaintiff claims that she treated the defendant like her own daughter, but the defendant showed no gratitude and disrespected her.
"We will now extract the memories of their interactions."
A tingle of electricity surged through my brain as I was plunged into a memory.
The judge's voice echoed in my mind. "Recall your wedding to Jake. Let's verify if his claim about your treatment of his mother is true."
The memory played before the court.
It was our wedding day. The venue was modest, and we had a traditional banquet in the village.
I wore a white wedding dress, my face clouded with worry.
Jake's mother approached me with a smile, taking my hand. "Elena, you're part of our family now. I swear, as your mother-in-law, I'll never treat you badly."
With that, she slid a gold bracelet onto my wrist.
She continued, "I sold two of our pigs to buy this for you. Wear it, and may you and Jake have a long and happy life together."
The scene looked harmonious enough, with no sign of any strife.
But then, the memory shifted to later that night. I returned to my room alone, coldly tossing the bracelet into the trash.
"What kind of junk is this? She has the nerve to give it to me. Disgusting!" I muttered.
The audience exploded in outrage.