LOGINThe Brooks mansion sat under a heavy, unsettling stillness that pressed against the walls and lingered in the air. Adam and Barbra sat on opposite ends of the living room, both facing the television without truly watching it. The past weeks had drained them in ways neither had words for. Every headline, every whispered comment, every look of pity or judgment had chipped away at what remained of their pride.In one corner of the room, Evelyn Brooks sat rigidly in her armchair, fingers wrapped tightly around the leather armrest, knuckles pale beneath her flawless manicure. Bail had returned her to the mansion, but not her power. The house no longer bowed to her presence. It merely tolerated it.The news anchor's voice shifted tone, smooth but deliberate."…in breaking business news, following its financial collapse, Brooks Enterprises has officially been sold."Adam straightened slowly, his breath hitching. Barbra leaned forward, sensing what was coming before the words landed."The
The moment Celine O’Neil stepped out of the courthouse, the quiet gravity of the courtroom dissolved into chaos. Cameras flashed in rapid bursts, microphones were thrust forward, and voices overlapped as journalists surged toward her from every angle. The afternoon sun reflected harshly off glass and metal, but it was the scrutiny that felt blinding.Her security team moved first, creating a buffer, their presence firm but controlled. Still, the questions flew.“Ms. O’Neil, is this trial about justice or revenge?”“Do you feel responsible for the Brooks family’s collapse?”“Is this personal retribution disguised as accountability?”Celine slowed her steps.Carter glanced at her briefly, silently asking if she wanted to keep moving. She gave a small shake of her head. If she walked away now, they would fill the silence for her. She turned towards the crowd, her posture straight, her expression calm but resolute.“I’ll speak,” she said.The noise dipped instantly.“This case is not d
The courtroom felt different that morning. It was not louder or fuller than before, yet something in the air had shifted. The usual murmurs were subdued, conversations reduced to hushed whispers that died quickly, as though everyone present sensed that this session would cut deeper than the rest.Celine O’Neil sat in her place, hands folded calmly on the desk before her. On the surface, she appeared composed, her posture steady, her gaze forward. Inside, however, she braced herself. Each day of the trial had stripped away another layer of the past she had fought so hard to bury. She had learned to endure it, but endurance did not mean immunity.Barrister Okoro sat beside her, reviewing his notes with quiet focus. He had not said much since they arrived, but his stillness carried purpose. Across the room, Evelyn Brooks sat stiffly at the defense table, her eyes sharp, scanning the room with a guarded vigilance. The confidence she once wielded so easily now seemed forced, held toge
The courtroom was already overflowing before the judge arrived. Journalists occupied every available row, notebooks balanced on knees, cameras discreetly positioned despite repeated warnings from court officials. Family members, legal observers, and curious members of the public filled the remaining seats, drawn by a case that had long outgrown the walls meant to contain it. The air itself felt heavy, charged with expectation and restrained emotion.Celine O’Neil sat at the front, her posture straight, her expression calm in a way that came only from deliberate control. She wore a simple dark suit, nothing ostentatious, nothing that invited distraction. To her right sat Barrister Okoro, composed and focused, files neatly arranged before him. Beside Okoro was Barrister Glen Peterson, silent but attentive, occasionally leaning in to exchange brief, muted words. Together, they formed a quiet wall of preparation around her.Across the aisle, Evelyn Brooks sat rigidly at the defendant
Celine sat alone in her office long after the building had gone quiet. The city lights beyond the glass walls glowed softly, but they offered no comfort. Files lay neatly arranged on her desk, court documents stacked with precision, yet her mind was anything but orderly. The case had grown bigger than strategy, bigger than headlines or public sympathy. It had become personal in a way she could no longer separate from her bones. Justice was the word everyone used, but deep down, she knew this was also about reclaiming the parts of herself that had been stripped away when no one stood beside her.A light knock came at the door.She did not look up. “Come in.”Emilia stepped inside, careful, almost hesitant. She had learned to read Celine’s moods, to sense when silence was protection rather than invitation.“Adam Brooks and Barbra are here,” Emilia said quietly. “They’re asking to see you.”Celine’s fingers stilled on the edge of the desk. She exhaled slowly, the sound controlled. Th
The courtroom was already full long before the judge took his seat. Journalists occupied every available row, cameras flashing until court officials ordered them to stop. Whispered conversations floated through the air, carrying speculation, judgement, and curiosity. This was not just another criminal hearing; it was the fall of a once-feared family and the rise of a woman many still struggled to understand.Evelyn Brooks sat at the defendant’s table, her back straight, her chin lifted. Anyone who did not know her might have mistaken her for calm. But those close enough could see it in her hands, how her fingers pressed tightly together, how her jaw clenched just a little too hard. Beside her sat Barrister Grant Wallace, leaning in occasionally to murmur instructions, his face serious, his confidence carefully maintained.A few seats away, Barbra sat between two uniformed officers. Unlike Evelyn, she made no effort to hide her distress. Her shoulders were slumped, her eyes dull an







