The trial begins in May, five months after Lily’s death. Jordan hands Asher and Olivia each a notebook to write in if they have any thoughts, questions, or ideas while the prosecution is talking. Gina Jewett, the attorney for the prosecution, tells the jury in her opening argument about how they’ll hear evidence of Asher and Lily’s relationship having been violent. She paints Asher as an abuser, liar, and murderer. Jordan counters, in his opening argument, with the possibility of people in a loving relationship getting intensely angry with each other without becoming violent. Asher loved Lily, and Jordan reminds the jury that he’s innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

Owen Tubbs, the first responder who was first to arrive at the scene of Lily’s death, is the prosecution’s first witness. He describes the scene to the jury, prompted by Gina: He arrived at Lily’s house to find her bleeding and unconscious, and only Asher and Ava were present. Jordan cross-examines Owen to show how the officer had no reason to engage with Asher before Lily’s death, as Asher has always been an upstanding citizen who caused no trouble.

Mike is the second witness called by the prosecution. Olivia remembers meeting Mike at a farmer’s market in Adams a year after her father died.