Masuk11:05 A.M. — High CourtThe courtroom remained tense after Vivienne stepped down from the witness stand.Aria sat quietly beside her lawyer.Her hands rested in her lap.They were still shaking.But she kept them there.She had already admitted the truth about what happened on the bridge.There was nothing left to take back.Nothing left to deny.The judge looked toward the prosecution.“Call your next witness.”The prosecutor rose.“The prosecution calls Detective Daniel Harris.”The courtroom doors opened.A man in a dark suit entered.He walked toward the witness stand with a thick file in his hands.Aria watched him.She recognized him.He had been one of the investigators involved in Sophia Lin's case.Her stomach tightened.This was the part she had been dreading.Not because she intended to deny it.But because hearing Sophia's name would force her to face something she had spent too long trying not to think about.Sophia was dead.And Aria had been the one who started it all.
9:40 A.M. — High CourtThe courtroom remained silent.Aria sat behind the defendant's table with her hands resting tightly together.Her lawyer had already warned her.Vivienne's testimony would be difficult to hear.But Aria didn't need a warning.She knew what Vivienne was going to say.She remembered every second of that night.The rain.The bridge.Vivienne crying in her arms.And the moment everything changed.The judge looked toward the prosecution.“Call your next witness.”The prosecutor stood.“The prosecution calls Vivienne Carter.”A murmur moved through the courtroom.Aria slowly lifted her head.Vivienne stood.Elizabeth immediately reached for her hand.Vivienne looked down at her mother.“I'll be fine.”Elizabeth nodded, although worry remained in her eyes.Vivienne walked toward the witness stand.Her heels clicked against the courtroom floor.Each step sounded louder than the last.Aria watched her.For the first time since arriving at the courthouse, Vivienne looked
7:10 A.M. — Police Headquarters, Detention RoomA new week had begun.Aria woke before the officer came for her.She had barely slept.For most of the night, she had stared at the ceiling, listening to the silence around her and waiting for morning to arrive.Now it was here.The day she would finally stand before a judge.Aria sat slowly on the edge of the narrow bed.Her hands rested on her lap.They were shaking.She looked down at them.For so long, those hands had been used to hold secrets.To sign documents.To make plans.To hurt people.And today, there would be nowhere left to hide.A knock sounded against the door.Aria lifted her head.The female officer stepped inside.“Your lawyer is here.”Aria nodded.“Okay.”She stood.Her legs felt weak, but she forced herself to walk.She was done running.Even if every step forward terrified her.7:30 A.M. — Police Headquarters, Consultation RoomAria's lawyer was waiting when she entered.Several documents were spread across the ta
2:15 P.M. — Police Headquarters, Detention RoomAria sat quietly on the edge of the bed.The hours had moved slowly.She had spent most of the morning thinking about her mother.About everything she had lost.About everything Richard had taken from Clara.And about the court hearing she would soon have to face herself.A knock sounded at the door.Aria looked up.The female officer entered.“Aria, you have a visitor.”Aria frowned.“Who?”“Ethan Cole.”Her expression changed immediately.“Ethan?”The officer nodded.“He's waiting for you.”Aria stood and followed her.2:20 P.M. — Police Headquarters, Visiting RoomEthan was already seated when Aria entered.He stood immediately.Aria sat across from him.For a few seconds, Ethan simply looked at her.She looked nervous.“What happened?” Aria finally asked.Ethan pulled out a chair.“Sit.”“I am sitting.”He smiled faintly.“I have news.”Aria's heart began beating faster.“About my mother?”Ethan nodded.“Yes.”Aria's fingers tightene
9:00 A.M. — High CourtThe courtroom was packed.Reporters filled the back rows, their cameras ready.The case had attracted public attention for weeks, but today was different.Today, Richard Carter would finally hear his fate.Aria wasn't there.She remained in police custody, waiting for her own court proceedings.But the people connected to Clara were present.Ethan Cole sat at the prosecution table, his files arranged neatly in front of him.Across the courtroom sat Richard.For the first time in years, he looked like a man who had finally run out of places to hide.His lawyer leaned toward him.“Mr. Carter, remain calm.”Richard said nothing.His eyes remained fixed on the judge.Ethan stood when the judge entered.“Everyone rise.”The courtroom fell silent.The judge took his seat.“Be seated.”Everyone sat.The judge looked down at the documents before him.“Mr. Richard Carter, this court has reviewed the evidence presented in the case concerning the death of Clara Lawrence, t
10:30 A.M. — Police Headquarters, Detention RoomAria sat quietly on the edge of the bed.The room was silent.For the first time in days, her thoughts weren't centered entirely on Damian.She still thought about him.She couldn't stop.But she was beginning to understand that there were things in her life that existed beyond the man she had lost.A soft knock came at the door.Aria looked up.The female officer entered.“Aria, you have a visitor.”“Who?”“Ethan Cole.”Aria immediately stood.“Ethan?”The officer nodded.“He's waiting in the visiting room.”Aria followed her.10:40 A.M. — Police Headquarters, Visiting RoomEthan stood when Aria entered.His expression softened when he saw her.Aria sat across from him.For a moment, neither of them spoke.Ethan studied her face.“You look tired.”“I am.”He nodded.“How are you holding up?”Aria gave a faint smile.“I'm trying.”“That's all you can do right now.”Aria lowered her eyes.“Why did you come?”“I wanted to update you.”“Ab
Lucas leaned back in his chair, relaxed, like the world hadn’t just cracked open.“So he’s been in the hospital since yesterday?” he asked.“Yes,” Aria replied, lifting her glass. “High blood pressure. Collapse. The whole drama.”Lucas whistled softly. “Damn. Didn’t think it would hit him that hard.
The church emptied slowly.Not because people wanted to stay—but because no one knew how to leave after witnessing something that ugly.Reporters were pushed out. Phones were lowered. Whispers faded into awkward silence.Soon, only a few people remained.Damian stood at the altar, still in his whit
“Babe, come downstairs,” Selene called out, already halfway up the stairs. “We have a visitor.”Damian looked up from his phone.“A visitor? Who?”“Just come down,” she said impatiently. “You ask too many questions.”Before he could protest, she grabbed his wrist and pulled him along. Damian sighed
Mr. Carter entered the bedroom with a heavy sigh and tossed his briefcase onto the chair. His wife, who had been folding clothes on the bed, paused immediately.“Darling… what’s wrong? You look upset,” she asked, walking closer.He shook his head, annoyed all over again.“Damian. That boy is biting







