LOGIN"And the contract was withdrawn shortly after."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
Edward’s POV I woke to silence. Not the soft kind that lets you breathe. This silence had edges. Weight. No Alicia moving through the house. No footsteps. No proof that anything in this mansion still answered to me. The light spilling across the bedroom felt too bright. Too accusatory. She'd dest
Alicia's POV I woke slowly, the way people do when their body is more tired than their mind. Light filtered through Elena’s half-drawn curtains, soft, pale, nothing like the harsh brightness of Edward's estate. My muscles felt sluggish but not painful, just used… overused. The blanket carried a h
Leo returned at nine fifteen with a stack of printed reports. "Media breakdown, sir. Forty-three mentions across major outlets since Friday. Eighteen are speculating on marital issues. Twelve medical crises are suggested. Seven are calling it a publicity stunt. The rest are neutral coverage." I sca
The video started. Sound on. No warning. No mercy. Moans. His voice. Her voice. Skin on skin. The rustle of sheets. A laugh—hers, breathless and satisfied. My throat closed. My pulse hammered so hard I thought my ribs would crack. "You see?" Lucy's voice cut through, soft and venomous. She leaned







