Chapter 931: The Building Has Fallen

Book:Mr. Burns Is Killing His Wife Published:2024-6-22

Winifred Dawson thought about it all night and decided not to go. The media reporters outside all recognized her now, and there would definitely be a lot of people outside the courthouse tomorrow. She didn’t want a repeat of the trampling incident outside the church last time.
But she felt unsatisfied if she didn’t see it with her own eyes.
The court session was at nine o’clock. Winifred Dawson hadn’t slept all night, staring into the dark night. The next day, she got up before dawn, took a shower to stay awake, and put on makeup to cover her sickly complexion and the dark circles under her eyes. Mrs. Protich got up early to make breakfast.
In the few days she had been taking care of Winifred Dawson, Mrs. Protich noticed that Winifred’s appetite was very small. She ate little during the three meals a day. Her body was thinner than normal, with pale, slender arms that looked like they could break easily.
Mrs. Protich’s previous employer liked to work out and paid attention to nutrition. So in the morning, Mrs. Protich made a simple sandwich with a glass of milk for Winifred Dawson.
Winifred chewed slowly, sometimes eating and sometimes daydreaming. It took her twenty minutes to finish the small sandwich, and she couldn’t drink the milk.
Mrs. Protich had watched the news yesterday and knew that today Leland Burns would be on trial at the court. She still believed that Leland Burns wouldn’t commit any crime and that he was likely framed. The court would definitely give him justice.
Thinking of Leland Burns, Mrs. Protich asked Winifred Dawson, “Miss Dawson, are you going out today?”
Mrs. Protich remembered Winifred’s earlier warning not to mention Leland Burns’ name in front of her. Several times she almost blurted it out but swallowed it back.
Winifred saw Mrs. Protich’s expression and knew what she really wanted to ask.
“I will go to the court today.”
Mrs. Protich was surprised by Winifred’s directness and paused before saying “Oh.”
She thought to herself: Winifred says she hates Leland Burns, but she still cares about him enough to go see him at court.
But in fact, Winifred wasn’t concerned; she just wanted to see the spectacle.
When Winifred left home, she wore sunglasses and a mask to ensure she wouldn’t be recognized before taking a car there. Instead of entering the courthouse, she went to a nearby tea shop.
The tea shop was full of people discussing Leland Burns’ case. His downfall had implicated many businesses, causing them all to collapse.
With the toppling of this giant figure, Peachshire Town fell into economic loss.
Some people still wanted to protect Leland Burns, but unfortunately, more people wanted him gone.
The trial was broadcast live. At 9:30 AM sharp, Winifred logged in on her phone.
People entered the live stream one after another until the screen was filled with comments.
Winifred didn’t pay attention to most comments but one caught her eye.
“Just a few days ago they were saying Leland Burns was getting married; who would have thought he’d end up in jail instead? And why hasn’t his fiancee shown up?”
Many comments cursed Leland Burns while some rational voices argued that he should receive a punishment fitting his crime. Others speculated about possible twists in the case or simply commented on his looks when he appeared on screen.
Leland Burns entered; it had been a week since the incident at the church-a week that had changed him drastically.
His hair was shaved short, revealing sharp features and cold eyes. He wore a blue prison uniform with handcuffs on his wrists but stood tall and unhurried as he appeared before everyone-nothing like an accused criminal awaiting trial.
He was indeed handsome; without that good-looking face, Winifred might never have noticed him initially.
For a moment Winifred was distracted until Leland Burns stood before the judge and brought her back to reality.
Leland hadn’t shaved; stubble added to his disheveled appearance as he locked eyes with the judge-a gaze like a wolf hiding in tall grass waiting for its chance-startling even the judge who had never seen such eyes before.
The judge struck his gavel opening court proceedings; silence fell so complete you could hear a pin drop.
Evidence presentation followed standard procedures while Leland remained silent throughout as if unconcerned about the outcome.
When finally announced: life imprisonment-twenty-two years-exactly what Winifred expected though many had thought he wouldn’t escape death penalty; for Leland those twenty-two years were no different from death sentence anyway.
Twenty-two years-how many such spans does one have? By then he’d be forty-three with most of life gone by; men’s prime is said to be thirty when careers peak and families flourish but for Leland those years would pass behind bars leaving him nothing upon release.
Hearing this result brought sighs from both courtroom attendees and online viewers alike; once standing atop Peachshire Town now fallen star evoked mixed feelings among all watching this dramatic fall from grace unfold live before their eyes.
Comments continued:
“I still think it’s too light; he deserved death for making dirty money.”
“What about his assets?”
“They’ll be seized by state-not left for you.”
“Leland could have achieved so much legally given his talents-he could’ve been world’s richest not just Peachshire Town’s if only he’d stayed clean-and he’s so young and handsome too.”
“His talents came through crime; money wasn’t clean either-good looks don’t matter if heart is corrupt.”
“Heard his background was tragic-lost parents young then adopted by Gentry Estate which collapsed recently-and fiancee supposedly that family’s daughter.”
“Childhood friends growing up together-probably looked down upon by rich girl hence never showed up since trouble began.”
“Rumor has it on wedding day itself he did unspeakable things at church with her.”
“How do you know?”
“My relative’s journalist-they were there hoping interview him but found disheveled Win instead walking shaky legs covered marks clearly indicating what happened.”
“Show proof then-I want see video or photos of disheveled Miss Dawson.”
“She’s stunningly beautiful-seen her myself rivals any current actress truly breathtaking.”
“No wonder Leland couldn’t forget all these years finally marrying only end up jailed himself.”
“Photos/videos deleted forcibly though.”
“Seems Miss Dawson has powerful backing.”
“Could it be Leland himself protecting her even from jail?”
“Impossible-he’d no means nor energy post-arrest plus wouldn’t have done those things if truly cared protecting her doing such acts inside church no less outrageous.”