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shadows of Envy

Author: Amyoga
last update publish date: 2025-11-05 00:30:13

The perfume of luxury floated through the glass corridors of The Aurelia Galleria, a scent that whispered of old money and new scandals.

Aria Carter-Cross walked beside Grandma Eleanor, her posture perfect, her eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses. Every click of her heels sounded like confidence. Every smile—controlled.

They had just stepped out of Chanel Privé when a familiar voice sliced through the calm air.

“Aria?”

She froze.

That voice.

Even after all this time, it still made her chest tigh
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  • Married Twice, Loved Once    The final verdict

    1:30 P.M. — High CourtLucas Walter sat at the defendant's table, his hands locked together.For most of the day, he had watched Aria's case unfold.Now, the attention had shifted to him.And unlike Aria, Lucas had spent years believing he could always find a way out.A loophole.A lie.Someone else to blame.Today, there was nowhere left to hide.The judge opened the final case file.“Mr. Lucas Walter, please stand.”Lucas rose slowly.His lawyer stood beside him.Across the courtroom, Aria watched quietly.Lucas refused to look at her.The judge adjusted his glasses.“This court has reviewed the evidence presented concerning your involvement in the criminal conspiracy with Aria Carter, the fraudulent establishment and operation of AC Holdings, the manipulation of financial records, and the deliberate financial attack against Cross Empire.”Lucas's jaw tightened.The judge continued.“The court has also reviewed your recorded confession and the evidence surrounding the kidnapping and

  • Married Twice, Loved Once    The poisoning

    11:45 A.M. — High CourtThe courtroom remained tense.But the prosecution wasn't finished.The prosecutor rose slowly from his seat.“Your Honour, the prosecution would like to call Damian Cross.”The courtroom immediately became quiet.Aria's breath caught.Her eyes moved instinctively toward Damian.He was seated several rows away.For most of the morning, he had remained silent.Aria had told herself that she didn't expect anything from him.But the moment his name was called, her heart began to pound.The prosecutor looked toward him.“Mr. Cross, please take the witness stand.”Damian remained still.For several seconds, nobody moved.Grandma Eleanor glanced toward him.Damian slowly stood.Aria's fingers tightened together.Damian looked at the judge.“Your Honour.”The judge lifted his eyes.“Yes, Mr. Cross?”Damian's expression remained controlled.But there was exhaustion behind his eyes.“I won't be testifying.”A murmur moved through the courtroom.Aria's heart sank.The pro

  • Married Twice, Loved Once    The Remaining Evidence

    11:05 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.

  • Married Twice, Loved Once     Vivienne's Testimony

    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

  • Married Twice, Loved Once     Before the Judge

    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

  • Married Twice, Loved Once    The News

    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

  • Married Twice, Loved Once    The fragmented mind

    2:15 PM. St. Nicholas Hospital, ICU.The rhythmic whoosh-click of the ventilator was the only sound in the dimly lit room.Aria locked the door behind her with a soft click. She moved with the efficiency of an assassin, placing her Chanel purse on the chair and retrieving the vial of muscle relaxan

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-04-04
  • Married Twice, Loved Once    Will You Marry Me ??

    8:30 PM. The Cross Mansion Aria stormed through the front door, tossing her Chanel bag onto the foyer table with enough force to knock over a small vase. It didn’t break, but the clatter echoed sharply in the quiet apartment.Damian was in the living room, nursing a tumbler of whiskey. He looked u

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-04-04
  • Married Twice, Loved Once    The silent scream

    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

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-04-04
  • Married Twice, Loved Once    The blood secret

    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

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-04-04
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