LOGIN"And the contract was withdrawn shortly after." "Yes." "How did you interpret that?" "She followed through." Cole objected. Speculation. Sustained. "Ms. Holloway. Across three years of events. How would you describe Alicia Valentine's manner?" "Controlled. Always controlled. She was never visi
Her smile faltering. A shadow passing across it. "Because I want you to understand—" "No." A step closer. "You are here because you are terrified. Because despite everything. Despite the photo. Despite Edward sleeping with you. Despite wearing his grandmother's necklace. You're still not his wife.
Alicia's POV The screen came on. The photography gallery. Museum lighting. Artwork on the walls. I was already there when Lucy walked in. I watched myself from across a courtroom. The navy gown. Hair up. Standing in front of a photograph of a woman whose face was half in shadow. Lucy stopped be
"No." She picked up one page from her table. Set it back down without reading it. The movement of someone who had taken in every word long before this moment and no longer needed to see them again. "Mr. Valentine. You called Alicia Valentine thirteen times that morning." "Yes." "She didn't answe
Edward's POV Four steps to Cole's table. Folder down. His hand moved over it without looking up. Done. Seven more to the stand. I sat. Adjusted once for the shoulder. Hands open on the railing. The sling pulled across my chest and I left it. Cole stood at the podium. "Mr. Valentine. Please sta
Judge Harmon returned at fourteen minutes. She set the folder on her bench and read without acknowledging either side. Two pages. She closed it. "The exhibit will be admitted with the following limitation. The jury is instructed that Exhibit D is to be considered only in the context of witness tes
Alicia's POV I woke to a sound I couldn’t place at first—shapes of voices drifting upward, blurred by distance and the layout of the house. Not words. Not tones I could clearly identify. Just the low hum of conversation traveling through the open staircase, the kind that shouldn’t have existed this
Alicia’s POV The apartment was quiet. Not the comforting quiet that let you sink into stillness, but the kind that pressed against your temples and reminded you of everything you hadn’t done, everything you’d lost. Elena had already left for work. The sound of her heels fading down the stairwell wa
Behind me, Vivienne's voice. "Edward. Inside. Now." I turned. Walked back. Lucy was in the foyer, mascara streaking down her face. "Edward, I'm so sorry. I never meant for any of this—" I walked past her like she didn't exist. Vivienne followed me. "I'm calling the guests right now. I'll tell th
"I'm making you food," she said, standing. "Real food. Not whatever they serve in that prison." "I'm not hungry." "Don't care. You're eating." She disappeared into the kitchen. Cabinets opened. A pan hit the stove. The sounds of someone who knew exactly what needed doing. I sank into the couch,







