"How could she be so ungrateful? Her mother-in-law was so kind to her."
"That bracelet came from selling two pigs. Elena has no heart."
I remained silent, letting them curse me.
As long as the gavel hadn't fallen, none of their words mattered.
Jake's family seemed to relax.
His mother looked at me with smug satisfaction.
Then the verdict came.
The judge checked the results, looking surprised.
She read it out, "The accusation of Elena being unfilial toward the plaintiff's mother is not substantiated. Elena is acquitted of this charge."
The courtroom fell into stunned silence.
The spectators gawked, unable to believe what they'd just heard.
They began whispering amongst themselves.
Jake's mother turned pale. "How could they say that? She clearly disrespected me."
The judge sternly banged the gavel once more, silencing the room.
"The trial proceeds. Extract the next memory," she said.
This time, the memory belonged to me and Jake.
The screen flickered to life, showing Jake with a broad smile, holding out two large gift boxes to me.
"Honey, take a look. Aren't these exactly what you wanted?" he asked.
I opened the boxes, revealing the logo of a luxury jewelry brand inside.
Startled, I questioned him, "Where did you get the money to buy such expensive things?"
Jake gazed at me lovingly.
He said, "Sweetheart, you deserve this. You're the love of my life. How could I let you go without jewelry?
"Even though I had to take out a loan for them, I'll work hard to pay it back."
I glanced at the jewelry with disdain, tossing it back into the box before hurling the box onto his chest.
I spat, "Jake, you make me sick.
"Talking like that while using these things to humiliate me. Aren't you afraid of karma?"
The memory abruptly cut off.
In the courtroom, the audience gasped collectively.
"How ungrateful can she be? Jake went into debt to buy her those gifts, and she didn't even appreciate it?"
"She's such a bitch. If I had a husband like Jake, I'd count my blessings."
"Someone ought to slap some sense into her."
The audience cursed at me.
Jake grew more and more smug.
The judge, receiving the verdict, struck the gavel once more.
She said, "Regarding the accusation that Elena forced Jake to spend money, the court finds it unsubstantiated. Elena is not guilty."
I couldn't help but let out a derisive laugh. In an instant, Jake and his family's triumphant expressions froze.
The crowd erupted again.