로그인8:00 A.M. — Cross MansionThe house was unusually quiet.Too quiet for a wedding day.There were no wedding planners rushing through the halls.No decorators carrying flowers.No makeup artists preparing the bride.No music.No laughter.No excited relatives arriving at the mansion.The wedding that had taken months to plan...wasn't happening.Grandma Eleanor sat quietly in the living room, staring at the untouched wedding invitation on the table.The date was today.The date they had all been waiting for.But the bride was sitting in a police cell.Eleanor sighed.She picked up the invitation.Damian Cross & Aria Carter.Her fingers tightened around the card.She slowly placed it back down.Upstairs, Damian stood in front of his bedroom window.He hadn't slept properly in two days.His suit was still hanging inside his wardrobe.The black tuxedo he had planned to wear today.The watch Aria had once helped him choose.The shoes he had bought specifically for the ceremony.Everything
5:10 P.M. — Walter Group HeadquartersThe reception area became tense the moment the police officers walked through the glass doors.Inspector Andrew entered first, followed by two officers.The receptionist immediately stood.“Good evening, officers.”Andrew showed his identification.“We're here for Lucas Walter.”The receptionist's expression changed.“Mr. Walter?”“Yes.”“Is there a problem?”“We need to speak with him.”She hesitated.“I'm afraid he's not here.”Andrew's eyes narrowed slightly.“When did he leave?”“I don't know exactly.”“You don't know?”She shook her head.“He came in this morning, but he left sometime after lunch.”“Did he say where he was going?”“No.”Andrew looked at the officers.“Take us to his office.”“Yes, Inspector.”They walked through the corridor.The atmosphere inside the building had suddenly changed.Employees watched quietly as the officers passed.When they reached Lucas's office, Andrew knocked.No answer.He knocked again.“Mr. Walter?”Sil
11:35 A.M. — Police HeadquartersDamian walked out of the interview room.He didn't look back.His steps were steady, but his mind was anything but.Aria's tears.Her apologies.Her confession.They replayed in his head over and over again.He stopped walking.He closed his eyes.His chest felt painfully tight.He had spent months believing he was finally building a life with the woman he loved.A wedding.A family.A future.And now he wasn't even sure who he had been loving.“Mr. Cross.”Damian opened his eyes.Inspector Andrew stood several feet behind him.Damian turned.“What?”Andrew's eyes dropped to his hand.Blood was still running from the cut across his knuckles.“Your hand is bleeding.”Damian looked down.He hadn't even noticed.“I'm fine.”“You should have that treated.”“I said I'm fine.”Andrew studied him for a moment.“You don't have to make a decision today.”Damian's expression hardened.“About the charges?”“Yes.”Damian looked away.“I told you I need to see her
11:05 A.M. — Police Headquarters, Interview RoomThe door opened.Aria lifted her head.She had been sitting at the table for several minutes, her lawyer beside her, waiting.Then she saw him.Damian.Her heart stopped.He stood at the doorway.For a moment, neither of them spoke.Aria had imagined this moment countless times.She had imagined running into his arms.She had imagined explaining everything.She had imagined him understanding.But she had never imagined the look in his eyes.Disappointment.Pain.Betrayal.Damian slowly walked into the room.His eyes never left her.Aria's lips trembled."Damian..."He said nothing.He pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down.The silence between them was unbearable.Aria lowered her eyes.Damian stared at her.Finally, he spoke."Tell me it's all a lie."Aria's breathing caught."Damian...""Look at me."His voice was quiet.Too quiet.Aria slowly raised her eyes."Look me in the eyes, Aria Carter, and tell me everything I heard w
9:20 A.M. — Police Headquarters, Inspector's OfficeDamian stood outside Inspector Andrew's office, his expression tense.He had barely slept.Since Aria's arrest, his mind had refused to settle.Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her being led away from the mansion.The handcuffs.The fear in her eyes.Her voice telling Grandma Eleanor that she hadn't killed anyone.He still couldn't understand how everything had happened so quickly.The door opened."Mr. Cross."Inspector Andrew stood aside."Come in."Damian entered.He walked straight toward the desk."Can I see my wife now?"Inspector Andrew closed the door behind him."No. Not yet."Damian's expression hardened."Why?""There are procedures we have to follow.""She's my wife.""I understand.""Then let me see her."Inspector Andrew looked at him for a moment."I need you to listen to something first."Damian frowned."Listen to what?""A recording.""What recording?"Inspector Andrew walked toward his desk."Aria's interrogat
3:45 P.M. — Police Headquarters, Interrogation RoomThe room was quiet.Aria sat at one side of the table with her lawyer beside her.Across from them sat Inspector Andrew and another investigator.A digital recorder rested in the middle of the table.Its red light was off.For a moment, nobody spoke.Inspector Andrew opened the file in front of him.“Mrs. Cross, before we begin, I need to remind you that you have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer any question you do not wish to answer.”Aria nodded.“I understand.”“Anything you say during this interview may be recorded and used as evidence.”“I understand.”“You have your lawyer present. Do you wish to continue with the interview?”Aria glanced at her lawyer.Her lawyer gave her a small nod.Aria turned back to the inspector.“Yes.”Inspector Andrew reached for the recorder.“Are you giving this statement voluntarily?”“Yes.”“You haven't been threatened, forced, or promised anything in exchange for this statemen
Wednesday, 2:30 PM (Local Time). Location Zero.The Atlantic Ocean was calm today, a flat sheet of turquoise glass stretching to the horizon. But inside the white concrete walls of The Sanctuary, the air was suffocating.Sophia sat in the common room a sterile, high-end lounge with floor-to-ceiling
8:00 PM. The Carter Mansion.The living room of the Carter estate was usually a place of quiet, old-money dignity. Tonight, it felt like a cage.Mr. Carter poured himself a brandy, his hand shaking slightly as the crystal decanter clinked against the glass. He turned to face his wife, who was pacin
1:15 AM. ICU, St. Nicholas Hospital.The double doors swung open, and Mrs. Carter stumbled out. She was pale, her hands trembling as she clutched a tissue to her nose. She looked at Mr. Carter and shook her head, unable to form words, before collapsing into his arms on the waiting room chair.Mr. C
12:45 AM. St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos Island.The waiting room smelled of antiseptic, floor wax, and cold, recycled air. It was a smell Aria knew she would never forget.She sat on a hard plastic chair, huddled under Damian’s trench coat. Her clothes were still damp, sticking uncomfortably to her







