**An Unexpected Turn**
«Your Honour, I withdraw my financial claim against the defendant,» Thomas said quietly. A murmur of confusion rippled through the courtroom.
The judge, accustomed to all manner of surprises, arched an eyebrow.
«Mr. Thompson, you understand this decision won’t affect the verdict but will forfeit your right to compensation?»
«I do.»
Katherinethough young, her colleagues always addressed her formally as Miss Bennettcontinued typing without reaction. Five years in this job had hardened her to human folly. She saw herself as a train conductor, endlessly shuttling carriages of other peoples tragedies.
The case against Linda W. was the kind the press loved. A serial con artist, she had swindled four men through dating sites, spinning tales of emergenciescar crashes, bitter divorces, sick childrenwithout ever meeting them.
*»Nothing new here,»* Katherine thought, sorting the files. Grown men, seemingly sensible, had played the knight, believing money could buy love. Instead, they’d been duped by a married mother of three.
Now, they sat in court: the defendant and her victims. Three seethed, demanding repayment, their speeches laced with venom. They werent wrong. The law was on their side. Katherine mechanically noted the familiar terms*»emotional distress,» «fraudulent misrepresentation,» «financial exploitation.»*
But Thomas Thompson sat apart, his posture devoid of anger or pity. When he renounced his claim, the room fell silent.
«Have you lost your mind?» one victim snapped. «She played you like the rest! Spent your money on God knows what!»
Thomas met his gaze, oddly mournful. «She has three children. Let them keep it.»
Katherine looked up, startled. Such generosity was rare here. His handsa welders, rough and clasped calmlyand his eyes, weary but unbitter, stood out in a world where everyone fought for scraps.
Afterward, a defence lawyer scoffed, «Hopeless romantic, that one. Naive as a child.»
Katherine, usually silent, countered, «Thats not naivety. Its strength. The kind money can’t buy.»
The room fell still. Even she was surprised by her own words.
In later sessions, she caught herself watching himhis quiet attentiveness, the way hed gaze out the window as if searching the grey sky for answers no one else heard.
On the final day, as the crowd dispersed, he lingered in the corridor. Katherine approached.
«Which way out?» he asked.
She pointed. He thanked her and turned to leave, but she called after him.
«Thomas?» He turned. «You were right. About the children. It was… decent.»
He studied her. «Katherine»
«Kate,» she offered.
«Kate. Kindness is scarce in places like this. Thank you for noticing.»
As he walked away, she felt something long dormant stir in her chest.
Outside, rain lashed down as Thomas hesitated under the awning.
Kate appeared behind him. «Weve a court-issue umbrella. For important documents. But I suppose itll do for a decent man too.»
They walked in comfortable silence, careful not to touch.
«You always defend victims like this?» he asked.
«Never. Youre the first who chose mercy over logic.»
«Foolish, then.»
«Rare. And rarity has value.»
At the park, the rain eased. «Walk with me?» he asked.
She hesitated*protocol breached, Miss Bennett*then nodded.
«Its never happened before,» he said suddenly. «People dont… understand me.»
«Because you refused to hate. These days, thats eccentric.»
His voice softened. «When I saw her photo onlineshe looked like Lillian. My first love. We were that school sweetheart couple everyone admired. Then she left for university, married a classmate. Sent me a postcard*Sorry. This is better.*»
Hed buried himself in work, welding metal to silence his heart. The scammers words*»I still believe in love»*had cracked him open. «I wasnt buying her lies. I was buying proof that what Id felt wasnt foolish.»
The trial, he said, had freed him. Seeing the womanordinary, frightenedshattered the illusion. «The money was the price of exorcising a ghost.»
Kate placed her hand over his. «Youre not eccentric. Youre… true to yourself.»
At work, whispers followed. The stern Miss Bennett, now spotted with Thomas, drew stares.
Judge Margaret Whitmore, known for withering glares, broke the silence first. «Never thought Id see the day. Our filing cabinet with a heartbeat has a soft spot for tragic romantics.»
Her colleague, Judge Edward Carter, smirked. «With his naivety, hes more defendant than victim. Reckon shes reforming him?»
Margaret cut in, though amused. «The mans honest. Principles over profitrare in our line.»
The staff divided. The men joked about «rescuing hopeless cases»; the women sighed over the drama. Only Valerie from Accounts defended her: «Envys ugly. A kind-hearted mans worth keeping.»
When Edward prodded Kate over coffee»So, your noble fool still donating to scammers?»she replied, sweetly lethal, «Shall I fetch case files on *your* colourful past, Edward?»
The jibes stopped.
The final straw came when Thomas dropped her off, tenderly adjusting her coat collar. The gestureso gentlesilenced the doubters.
Margaret pulled her aside. «Hes good, Kate. Keep him.»
Kate nodded. The verdict was in.
*Pardoned. To love. To be happy.* No appeals permitted.
