The day after he was discharged from the hospital, he moved out of his old apartment.
He would have moved sooner or later anyway, but this time the reason was simple—he wanted to avoid Mira's harassment.
Even if he didn't fear her antics, it would be troublesome.
He had already blocked every number he knew belonged to her family. But Mira kept calling him using unfamiliar numbers, and each time he recognized her voice, he hung up immediately and blocked the new number.
This didn't happen once or twice—but five times in total. If persistence deserved awards, then Mira truly deserved it.
One day, an old high school classmate—someone he hadn't spoken to in years—suddenly called him. The man awkwardly tried to "mediate" on Mira's behalf, asking him to forgive her, to drop the situation, to "not blow things out of proportion."
Aeris dismissed him with a few indifferent sentences and ended the call.
With the ample evidence Aeris had provided, the investigation progressed quickly, and before long, he received the court summons.
Even if Mira's family anticipated the outcome, they still had that lingering hope that Aeris would remember their past affection and show mercy.
But their hope was shattered the moment the court summons arrived, and with it, the last remnants of peace within the family crumbled as well.
Her mother's crying, her father's sharp words, the neighbors whispering, and her relatives' constant scrutiny weighed heavily on her. The immense mental pressure left the once-spirited girl dulled, gloomy and withdrawn.
After nearly three months, they once again met outside the courtroom.
Aeris arrived with his lawyer. He ignored the family's hostile gaze and walked past them directly.
Aeris' lawyer felt no pressure; the amount of evidence his client had amassed was overwhelming, and indisputable.
No matter how the defendant's attorney attempted to portray the confrontation as a impulsive and emotionally driven in defending and supporting the family honor, the judge decisively ruled in Aeris' favor. The CCTV footage and medical reports were strong and indisputable, leaving no room for doubt.
Mira's father, Finn, was sentenced to eighteen-month suspended sentence and liable for 60% for the damages properly, medical bills, and emotional distress.
The three brothers were sentenced to six months actual custody and were liable for 40% of the compensation to the victim.
Mira was ordered to pay a fine, and a formal apology to Aeris for damage to reputation and emotional distress.
The mother of three brothers fainted upon hearing the judge's ruling.
They looked at their fainted mother and their father, whose hair had turned white with worry. They regretted their impulsive actions deeply but it was too late
They learned not to act impulsively in the heat of the moment—but it came at a heavy price.
As the wise man says, "Misfortunes never come singly."
News of the court ruling quickly reached the school. Under pressure from both the students' parents and strict school employment policies, all three family members were suspended pending review by the school board.
Finn began to despise his own daughter. All his life's work, the respect and reputation he had painstakingly built, came crashing down like a sandcastle swept away by the relentless tide.
Mira had managed to drain not just their life savings, but the very essence of their lives. For Finn, reputation had been as vital as life itself. Now, he felt as foul and wretched as a pair of old, unwashed socks.
The school board finally issued their ruling; unsurprisingly, they were dismissed from their jobs.
Knock. Knock…
Mira huddled on her bed, covering her ears, eyes brimming with dread and despair.
In the living room, Finn's face could stop clocks — dark, stormy, and full of silent fury.
Amelia's face was no better.
"Husband, let's call the police. I'm afraid they might break in someday."
Finn responded grimly, "What's the point? They'll be released after a few days of detention. Things will only get worse."
"But we can't just let them continue like this…" Amelia's voice trembled.
Finn clenched his fists, his jaw tightening.
For days, a group of scoundrels had been harassing them. Their vile words toward his wife and daughter left the family humiliated and unsettled.
The thugs grew bolder, encouraged by the lack of consequences.
Finn knew it couldn't go on.
After much consideration, he finally decided to take his wife and daughter away from this place and start a new life elsewhere.
In any case, this place no longer felt like home to them.