The case moved into public hearings . Because of its explosive nature and intense public interest , the entire process was streamed live . Sophie Carlisle put on a performance worthy of an Oscar in court . She produced a stack of carefully edited , fabricated Instagram transcripts and phone recordings . In those " evidences " she painted herself as the pure , powerless victim of workplace bullying and manipulative superiors . Tearfully , she accused Charles of using his captain's authority to seduce and coerce her- threatening her family and career whenever she resisted . " I was just a newly graduated intern with dreams for the future ... " she sobbed . " I couldn't fight back - he's the captain . He could decide whether I stayed or went ... " "At thirty thousand feet , what he says is law ... " Her act pulled at countless hearts online . Public opinion began to shift . many people accepted that while Sophie might have made mistakes , she was , above all , a pitiful victim . All the blame fell squarely on Charles . I sat in the gallery, watching her crude performance with a cold gaze . I hadn't submitted all my evidence . I knew sometimes the best way to take down someone like her was to let them drown in the very people they trusted most . The judge turned to Charles on the defendant's bench . He had not spoken since the trial began ; he sat staring at Sophie with an empty , frightening look . " Captain Wentworth , do you have any objections to the evidence and testimony presented by Ms. Carlisle ? " the judge asked . Everyone expected Charles to crumble - that he would be unable to answer and would be publicly disgraced . Instead , he surprised everyone with a smile . " Objections ? " he repeated , then slowly lifted his head to face the judge . " No objections . I do , however , have a piece of private evidence I would ask the court - and all the concerned netizens watching - to review . " Chapter9 9.38 % His lawyer's face went pale ; he opened his mouth to stop him , but it was too late . The evidence was uploaded to the court system , verified by technicians , and then projected onto the large screen in the center of the courtroom . It was a video pulled from Charles's private cloud storage . The footage had been shot in a five - star hotel suite . The camera wobbled - clearly a phone recording taken covertly . In the clip , Sophie was in a revealing slip , clinging to Charles like an octopus , cooing and giggling in a voice that made one's skin crawl . " Oh , senior ... you're so amazing . That Evelyn is an old hag - how could she compare to you ? " she purred . " Come on , divorce her and marry me , " she squealed . " Then you can be the captain , and I'll be the first officer - we'd be unstoppable ! " Charles's voice followed . " You're just impatient . On this flight I'll have you make a bit of a showing - let you have a moment of calm heroism . That'll seal your promotion . " Sophie planted a kiss on him and laughed . " What if something goes wrong ? " " What's the worst that could happen ? " Charles said . " If something goes wrong , we blame the weather . Or mechanical failure . If that fails ... we blame your purser - wife . She's nearly retiring anyway . " The video was long . It documented , in sickening detail , how they planned to manufacture a moment of competence for Sophie during the flight - how they would stage a situation to let her " shine " and win fast - track promotion - and how they intended to shift blame for any mishap afterward . The courtroom buzzed as the footage played . Sophie's earlier tears dried on her face ; the mask slipped . The net that she and her co - conspirator had woven began to unravel in front of everyone . The live chat exploded . 【 Holy - what a reversal ! ] 【 I'm sick . I was defending her a minute ago - how could I be so blind ?! ] 【 What a venomous bitch ! This woman is evil ! 】 Chapter9 9.38 % [ PUA ? Coercion ? This is straight out of a corrupt soap opera ! ) [ Dogs biting dogs ! Both of them can rot ! ] The courtroom fell utterly silent . All eyes fixed on the woman slumped in the defendant's chair . Sophie's color had bled away ; she stared at the big screen in disbelief , then at Charles - whose face had gone utterly blank - lips trembling , unable to form a single word . Every lie , every carefully crafted mask she had shown the world had been torn to shreds by the one she trusted most . her " senior . " > Charles looked at her as if peering into a black hole . With the last of his strength , he forced out words , slow and ragged . " I ruined my career , my family , my life - for you ... " " I put everything on you ... " ' But you , Sophie Carlisle- you used me from the start . voice grew louder , rawer . His emotions unspooled into fury . ve acting , don't you ? Huh ?! You love playing the innocent , right ?! " ' ll show everyone what you really are ! " He let out a beastly roar , sprang up from the bench , and lunged toward Sophie . " I'll kill you- ! " Bailiffs swarmed , pinning him down . He thrashed and raged - shrieking , cursing , laughing like someone gone mad . In that moment his mind shattered . The hearing was forced to halt . Charles was removed under arrest for acute psychological disturbance and taken directly to a psychiatric institution for compulsory treatment . His life had collapsed in the most ignominious way . Sophie's fate was different but no kinder . She faced the full weight of the law . Convicted of endangering public safety , perjury , and defamation , she received a heavy sentence - and the Civil Aviation Authority issued a red notice permanently banning her from the industry . Her flying Chapter9 9.38 % dreams and fantasies of wealth and status were ground to dust . I stepped out of the courthouse into the bright , stabbing sunlight . It felt warm on my face . I had finally brought them down , both morally and legally , in full public view , using their own corruption as the final stake . My phone buzzed . I glanced down . A message from an unknown number . The sender's name . Richard Alden . [ Ms. Hart , in recognition of your exemplary conduct during the AF370 incident and for the > outstanding professionalism and sense of responsibility you demonstrated , the Board of Directors has , by special resolution , appointed you as General Manager of Cabin Services . We hope you will come to safeguard civil aviation safety in your new role . ] manager ? Jumpi the company's ) to race . head of the department - such a leap had no precedent message again to be sure I hadn't misread it . My heart began and Sophie had ruined me , the industry had blacklisted me , and I had died fe had not only seen me take them down - it had handed me an omotion . ld decide what to do with this dizzying turn of fate , my phone rang again .