Section 7: Liam Carter

Lucas Carter's POV

As I sat in the waiting area, my heart was heavy with anticipation and anxiety. It was the day my big brother, Liam, was going to testify, and I couldn't help but wonder how it would go. The weight of the truth felt like a burden on my shoulders, and I couldn't escape the nagging question in my mind - would Liam ever be able to forgive me?

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I approached Liam. He was standing in front of the mirror, putting on his tie, getting ready for his testimony. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. But I knew I had to check on him, to see how he was feeling.

"Hey, Brother," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "How are you holding up?"

Liam turned to look at me, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions. "Why do you care?" he retorted, his tone sharp and cold.

My heart sank at his response, but I couldn't back down. "Because you're my brother," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "And I care about you."

Liam scoffed, turning away from me. "You expect me to believe that after what you did?" he snapped.

I took a step closer, trying to make him understand. "Brother, I didn't mean for any of it to happen. You have to believe me," I pleaded, my voice cracking with emotion.

He turned back to face me, his eyes filled with anger and hurt. "How could you do something like that, Lucas? How could you hurt Mom like that?" he said, his words like a knife to my heart.

"I never wanted any of this to happen," I said, my voice trembling with pain. "I was scared, and I didn't know what to do. I didn't mean for her to get hurt."

Liam shook his head, his expression hardening. "You're always making excuses, Lucas. It's always someone else's fault, isn't it?"

Tears welled up in my eyes as I tried to find the right words. "You don't understand, brother," I said, my voice choked with emotion. "You weren't there. You didn't see what she did to me, what she put me through for years."

He scoffed again, his eyes narrowing. "Oh, poor Lucas, the victim," he sneered. "You think that gives you the right to hurt someone else?"

I felt like a wounded animal, backed into a corner with no way out. "No, I didn't want to hurt anyone," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "But I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't let her keep hurting me."

Liam shook his head again, his face contorted with anger. "You could have gone to Dad, to me, to anyone," he said, his words biting like a bitter wind. "But you chose to handle it on your own, and look where it got us."

"I was scared, brother," I said, my voice rising in desperation. "I didn't know what she would do if I told anyone. I thought I could handle it, that I could protect myself."

He turned away from me, not wanting to hear any more of my excuses. "I can't forgive you for this, Lucas," he said, his voice cold and distant. "You've torn our family apart, and I don't know if I can ever trust you again."

His words pierced through me like a thousand knives, and I felt my heart shatter into pieces. I wanted so desperately for him to understand, to see the pain and fear I had lived with for so long. But it was clear that he couldn't, that he wouldn't forgive me for what I had done.

As I walked away from him, the weight of his words settled on my shoulders, and I knew that the road to forgiveness, if there was one at all, would be long and painful. I had hurt my brother, and I didn't know if he would ever be able to forgive me for it.

As I sat in the courtroom, my heart pounding in my chest, the prosecutor's questions felt like sharp arrows aimed at my character. "Isn't it true, Mr. Carter, that your brother has always been envious of you? That he couldn't stand to see you happy and successful?"

I clenched my fists, trying to control the anger and frustration welling up inside me. I glanced at Liam, my big brother, hoping to see a glimmer of support, but instead, I saw a steely determination in his eyes.

"Objection, Your Honor," my lawyer interjected, coming to my defense. "The line of questioning is leading and speculative."

The judge nodded, acknowledging the objection, and the prosecutor rephrased his question. "Alright then, Mr. Carter. Can you tell us about your relationship with your brother?"

Liam straightened his posture, looking every bit the confident and composed person that he was. "Lucas is my brother, and we've always been close. We've supported each other through thick and thin, celebrated each other's successes, and helped each other through tough times."

The prosecutor persisted, trying to paint a picture of envy in my heart. "But isn't it true that you have a successful career and a desirable life, Mr. Carter? Could it be possible that Lucas harbored feelings of jealousy towards you?"

Liam sighed, frustration evident in his voice. "Look, I may have a good life, but that doesn't mean Lucas was jealous of me. We've always supported each other, celebrated each other's achievements. He's my brother, and I can say with certainty that he never wished me harm or ill-will."

The prosecutor shifted tactics, attempting to portray me as the villain. "What about Lucas's relationship with Eliza? Were there any signs of resentment towards her?"

Liam's jaw tensed, but he maintained his composure. "Lucas didn't have the best relationship with mom, but that doesn't mean he wanted to harm her. They had their differences, but he wouldn't resort to violence."

The questions continued, the prosecutor relentless in trying to plant seeds of doubt. But Liam stood firm, defending me with unwavering support. "You don't understand," he finally said, his voice tinged with emotion. "Lucas was the one who brought joy into my life. We shared memories, laughter, and tears. He's not capable of such a heinous act."

As I listened to my brother's testimony, my heart swelled with gratitude and love. Despite everything that had happened, he was standing up for me, defending me against the accusations. It was a powerful reminder that even in the darkest times, he believes in me.

In that moment, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, my family could find a way to heal and come together again. Liam's unwavering faith in me gave me strength, a flicker of light in the darkness that surrounded us.

"So, it's not true that Lucas was jealous of you?"

The tension in the courtroom was suffocating as the prosecutor relentlessly questioned my brother, insinuating that I was envious of him. I felt a mix of emotions, hurt that he would say such things and grateful that my brother was standing up for me after our heated argument.

Liam's face was flushed with anger as he responded, "No, that's not true. If anything, I was the one who was jealous of Lucas." His voice was firm, his eyes locked with the prosecutor's.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Liam was defending me, not letting them twist the truth. I felt a lump in my throat, the weight of his words sinking in. He continued, "He never had to chase after anyone's expectations. He was always loved and appreciated for who he was. I was the one who felt like I had to prove myself, and Lucas was the only one who saw me for who I truly am."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I listened to Liam's heartfelt confession. I didn't know what else to feel, I never thought he saw me that way.

As the prosecutor tried to press on, Liam stood his ground, "No, you don't understand. Lucas was the one who gave me strength when I needed it the most. He never judged me or made me feel like I wasn't good enough. He was my rock, my anchor in a world that felt overwhelming."

The courtroom was silent as Liam's words hung in the air. I looked around, seeing the faces of the jury and spectators, some of them moved by Liam's raw honesty. In that moment, I felt a surge of pride and gratitude for my big brother.

The prosecutor leaned in, a cunning glint in his eyes, as he continued his line of questioning, "Isn't it possible, Mr. Carter, that you were feeling lonely and vulnerable at the time? And that perhaps, in your state of vulnerability, you turned to Lucas for comfort and ended up trusting him blindly?"

Liam's jaw tightened, and I could see his frustration growing. He took a deep breath before answering, "No, that's not true. I've never felt manipulated by Lucas. We've always been there for each other, through thick and thin. He never took advantage of my vulnerability."

The prosecutor's lips curled into a small smirk, clearly not satisfied with my brother's response. "But Mr. Carter, isn't it true that you were going through a difficult time when Lucas moved in with your family? You felt betrayed that your father had an affair. Isn't it possible that you clung to Lucas as a way to cope up with your grief?"

Liam's eyes flashed with anger, but he remained composed, "Yes, it was devastating, and it was a difficult time for all of us. But it wasn't about coping; it was about welcoming Lucas into our family. He's my brother, and I wanted him to feel loved and accepted."

In that moment, I realized how lucky I was to have Liam as my big brother. He had been my protector, my confidant, and my greatest support throughout the years. And now, he was standing up for me in a way that went beyond mere testimony. He was standing up for our bond, for the love and trust we shared.

The prosecutor's voice was sharp and relentless as he posed the question, "Mr. Carter, you claim to have been close to your half-brother, Lucas. Can you explain then, how you failed to notice the abuse he allegedly endured at the hands of Eliza? Is it possible that it's because there was never any abuse to begin with?"

The prosecutor's question hit Liam like a punch to the gut. His eyes darted between the prosecutor and me, his face contorting with emotions. It was a question he had feared, one that seemed to challenge everything he believed about our bond.

Liam's face tensed, and I could see the weight of the question sinking in. I braced myself for his response, knowing that he might be feeling trapped between loyalty to me and the uncertainty surrounding the past.

"I-I did notice that Lucas was going through a tough time," Liam began, his voice trembling slightly. "But he never told me about any abuse. I knew he had scars and bruises, but I always thought he was just clumsy or getting into fights at school. I never imagined..."

His words trailed off, and I could see the conflict in his eyes. He wanted to defend me, to protect me, but he was also grappling with the possibility that he might have missed something, that he might have failed to see the truth.

The weight of the prosecutor's words seemed to press down on him, and for a moment, I saw him struggling to find the right response. It was as if he was torn between two conflicting realities: the strong bond we shared and the unsettling doubt that was being planted in his mind.

The prosecutor pushed further, "So, you're suggesting that Lucas might have inflicted those injuries on himself?"

"No, I'm not suggesting that at all." Liam retorted, his voice firm. "I don't know what happened, but I know that Lucas wouldn't hurt himself like that. There must be something else going on here."

The tension in the courtroom seemed to escalate as the prosecutor probed for any crack in Liam's testimony. But my brother held his ground, refusing to be swayed.

"Mr. Carter, are you sure you're not just trying to protect your brother?" the prosecutor pressed, his voice dripping with skepticism.

Liam's face flushed with frustration, and for a moment, I thought he might lose his composure. But he took a deep breath and steadied himself.

"I am not protecting anyone. I am simply speaking the truth as I know it," Liam asserted, his voice firm and unwavering.

The prosecutor seemed unsatisfied with Liam's response and continued to insinuate that I might be manipulating him. But my brother's resolve only grew stronger.

"I trust my brother," Liam stated, his eyes locked with mine. His words hit me like a wave of emotion, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of gratitude and guilt.

The courtroom seemed to hold its breath as Liam's words hung in the air. The prosecutor appeared to be taken aback by the raw emotion in my brother's testimony, and for a moment, the doubt in his eyes wavered.

In the end, it wasn't just Liam's words that defended me, but the unspoken bond between us, the unbreakable connection of blood and love. As the trial carried on, I knew that whatever the outcome, I had my brother's love and support, and that was enough to give me the strength to face whatever came my way.

After the intense testimony, I mustered the courage to approach Liam who was standing near the courtroom's exit, surrounded by a few of our family members. I could feel the weight of his testimony still hanging in the air, the emotions raw and palpable.

"Brother," I said softly, my heart pounding in my chest. "I just wanted to thank you for standing up for me in there."

Liam turned to look at me, his expression guarded. "I didn't do it for you," he replied curtly. "I did it because I believe in telling the truth."

His words stung like a slap in the face, and I could feel my heart sink. Deep down, I knew he was just trying to protect himself, but I also knew that his actions spoke louder than his words.

"I know you're still mad at me," I said, trying to hide the hurt in my voice. "But I saw how you stood up for me in there. You didn't have to do that, and I'll always be grateful for it."

He looked away, his jaw clenched, and I could see the conflict in his eyes.

"I just don't want people to think I'm weak or easily manipulated," Liam finally admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. "But that doesn't mean I don't care about you."

"I know you're not weak. You're the strongest person I know."

He glanced at me, his expression softening slightly. "You're the strong one, Lucas. You've been through so much, and you're still standing. I admire that about you."

I smiled, grateful for his words. "We're strong together, brother. We've always been there for each other, through the good and the bad."

He nodded, and for a moment, the walls he had put up seemed to crumble just a little. "Yeah, we are," he said quietly.

I wanted to reach out and hug him, to show him how much I cared and how sorry I was. But I knew that he needed space, that pushing him would only push him further away.

So instead, I gave him a small smile. "Take care of yourself, Liam," I said. "And remember, no matter what happens, I love you, and I'll always be here for you."

He looked at me, his expression softening just a little more. "I love you too, Lucas," he said. "And I hope that someday, we can find a way to move past this."

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