MasukRowan’s POVI sat there, trapped in that damned wheelchair, watching her disappear down the courthouse steps."Amelia—" I started, but the sentence died in my throat.She didn’t turn around.And that… that was worse than anything."Damn you, mother," I growled under my breath, my hands gripping the armrests so tightly my knuckles turned white."Careful how you speak to me, son," Evangeline replied smoothly, her voice coated in polished sweetness that fooled absolutely no one. "We have an audience."I barely registered her words—until the rapid click-click-click of cameras snapped me back to reality.I turned my head sharply.Paparazzi. Of course.Lurking like vultures at the bottom of the steps, lenses trained on us, capturing every second of my humiliation. Every crack in my composure."Rowan! Over here!""Mr. Lancaster, is it true your ex-wife confessed to attempted murder?""What’s your relationship with Amelia Hartwell?"I let out a harsh breath, dragging a hand through my hair."
Amelia’s POV"You tried to fucking kill her?!" Rowan said, his voice trembling with barely contained fury.Sienna tilted her head, rolling her eyes as if this were all some tedious misunderstanding. "Oh, don’t be dramatic," she said lightly. "I just wanted to scare her."The words hit me like a physical blow.My stomach twisted violently, bile rising in my throat. Scare me? A motorcycle slamming into us at full speed wasn’t fear—it was death. It had nearly been death."You—" Rowan started, his voice rising dangerously, but the intensity sent a sharp jolt through his injured ribs. He sucked in a harsh breath, his hand flying to his side."Rowan—" I stepped forward instinctively, my hand half-reaching toward him."I’m fine," he bit out through gritted teeth, though the strain was obvious. His dark eyes never left Sienna. Not for a second. "Answer me. Did you or did you not hire that driver?"The courtroom felt like it was holding its breath.Sienna’s lips curved slowly into a smile."L
Vienna’s POVThe word echoed through the courtroom.It reverberated through the high ceilings. Through the rows of people. Through my chest.For a moment, no one moved.Then the room erupted. Gasps. Whispered conversations. The sharp scratch of reporters’ pens racing across paper. The muted buzz of phones lighting up with breaking headlines.I exhaled a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. My knees nearly gave out beneath me.It was over. It was finally over."She can’t hurt him anymore…" I whispered, more to myself than anyone else.My fingers curled slightly against the edge of the bench.Across the room, Rowan sat very still in his wheelchair.His jaw was tight. His dark eyes locked forward, not on the jury, not on the judge—But on Sienna.There was no relief in his expression. Only something darker. Something simmering.The judge’s voice cut through the noise. "Order. Order in the courtroom."Gradually, the murmurs quieted.Sienna stood at the defendant’s table, her face pal
Amelia’s POVThe room went still.I could feel every single pair of eyes on me. Judging. Weighing. Waiting.My pulse roared in my ears as the lawyer’s question lingered in the air, sharp and deliberate, like a blade held just inches from my throat.And then—I saw it.Slowly—so slowly it made my stomach turn—Victoria lifted her hand.Her finger traced across her throat. A slicing motion. Subtle, but unmistakable.My breath hitched.That was a threat. Not implied. Promised.A chill ran down my spine, ice-cold and suffocating.For a split second, the courtroom disappeared. And all I could see was that gesture.That smile tugging at the corner of her lips. That look in her eyes that told me she meant every second of it.My fingers tightened against the wooden edge of the stand. The motorbike accident flashed through my mind. My stomach dropped.Could she—No.No… her own sister… that was insane. Or was it?I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe.Focus. You’re under oath.I took a s
Amelia’s POVThe courthouse loomed ahead of me like something out of a nightmare—cold stone, towering pillars, and far too many cameras flashing at once.I froze at the bottom of the steps for half a second, my heart thundering in my chest.This was it. There was no turning back now."Miss Hartwell! Over here!""Is it true you’re testifying against Sienna Rhodes?""Are you still involved with Rowan Lancaster?"The questions came rapid-fire, sharp and invasive, like knives thrown from every direction.I kept my head down, gripping my bag tighter as I pushed forward."No comment," I muttered, though my voice was barely audible over the chaos.A reporter stepped closer, shoving a microphone toward my face. "Miss Hartwell, sources say you were present during the alleged medical abuse. Can you confirm—""Please move," a security guard cut in firmly, creating a path for me.Thank God.I slipped inside the courthouse, the heavy doors shutting behind me and muting the noise outside.But the q
Amelia’s POVI stared at Gabriel, still half in shock that he was even standing in my doorway."Apologize?" I repeated slowly. "For what exactly?"He shifted his weight slightly, one hand still holding the bouquet of tulips like a shield. "For… a few things," he admitted. "After seeing you in the hospital yesterday, I had some realizations."I leaned against the doorframe, crossing my arms loosely. "That sounds ominous. Go on…"He exhaled, glancing down briefly before meeting my eyes again. "About how things ended between us. About the assumptions I made. About how I handled… everything.""Everything," I echoed, raising an eyebrow. "That’s very specific.""And very deserved," he said with a faint smile. "I wasn’t exactly at my best.""That’s one way of putting it," I muttered.He huffed out a quiet laugh. "Yeah. I walked into that one."There was a brief pause before he continued, more seriously now. "I also haven’t been there for you. Not as a friend. Not as someone who… cares about
Rowan’s POVI shouldn’t have been listening. I knew it was low, pathetic even. But I did it anyway—leaning just close enough to hear Amelia and that smug bastard Gabriel whispering on the balcony."…tomorrow night… something special…" Gabriel said.Amelia’s soft laugh followed, and something inside
Amelia’s POVHe placed a hand over his heart as if trying to steady it. "Let me make it clear. Publicly. Loudly. No more hiding. No more rumors. No more Sienna overshadowing anything."I stared at him, unsure if this was a grand gesture… or another impulsive attempt to fix a mess with a bigger mess
Amelia’s POVGabriel didn’t even look at me when he walked through the lobby—just strode straight to the elevator like I wasn’t standing right there.I hurried after him. "Gabriel… hey," I said softly.Nothing. He didn’t even flick an eye in my direction.Great. Perfect. Exactly what I needed this
Amelia’s POVOh god. Oh god. Why did I say that?That was stupid and I knew it.Rowan looked at me with so much tenderness it made my chest cave in. We were still half-collapsed across the back seats, our bodies tangled, our breathing uneven."Oh, Amelia…" he murmured, brushing his fingers through







