Chapter 3

Back then, despite Grandma's objections, Grandpa insisted on bringing Alanna home and raising her as his adopted daughter.

Grandma fought with him over it time and time again. The stress eventually made her seriously ill, and before long, she passed away.

Even then, Grandpa never reflected on his choices. He remained convinced that a girl who had lost both parents was more deserving of sympathy than his own daughter, who had only lost her mother.

Alanna received better clothes, better food, and a better life than his biological child ever did.

Alanna attended expensive private schools, while my mother wasn't even allowed to finish high school. She was forced to drop out and support herself while she was still young.

My mother resented Grandpa, so she never told him about meeting my father, marrying him, or having me.

Despite everything, she still longed for her father's love.

Then one day, Grandpa sent her a letter claiming he was gravely ill and wanted to see her one last time before he died. Worried sick, she rushed to his side.

When she returned, she was under arrest.

When my father and I were finally allowed to see her, her hair had turned completely white overnight. She sat there repeating the same questions over and over.

"Wasn't I your daughter?"

"What did I do wrong?"

"Did I deserve to die?"

My mother was trapped inside that prison until the very end. Broken, she was terrified and lost.

Even on death row, there was only one question she wanted answered: "Why?"

She asked it, but all she got in return was Grandpa's sanctimonious sigh.

"Alanna, I raised you as my own daughter, yet somehow you still committed such a terrible crime. I failed to teach you properly. I've let your father down and betrayed the promise I made to him before he died."

No, that wasn't true.

His adopted daughter, Alanna, was standing right in front of me.

The real killer had escaped justice, stolen my mother's name, and spent forty years living a glamorous, happy life.

Meanwhile, his innocent biological daughter had remained wrongfully condemned for forty years. And now, that woman calling herself "Florence" stood before me. She pointed at the large insulated food carrier in the driver's hands and smiled.

"Judge Hart, it's getting late. You probably haven't had dinner yet. My family made this meat pie together. We'd love for you to try some." She tapped the bottom of the container and gave me a meaningful look, hinting at something else.

I turned and walked away. "No thanks. I've already eaten."

Apparently, she hadn't expected that response. She hurried after me.

"Judge Hart—"

I grabbed a filthy wire hanger from nearby and held it out between us, stopping her from getting any closer. My voice turned icy.

"According to court regulations, judicial personnel are prohibited from privately contacting parties involved in cases they are handling, as well as their relatives and other related individuals. If you have something to say, submit a formal request through the proper legal channels."

The smile vanished from "Florence's" face, and she dropped the act entirely.

"Judge Hart, let's stop pretending and speak honestly. There's enough money in that container for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life.

"And if money isn't what you want, I can offer other things. A bright future, for example.

"Every generation of the Kanes has had only one daughter. Scarlett is the treasure of our entire family. I won't let anything happen to her."

I tightened my grip on the hanger and refused to back down. "So your child is precious, but other people's children aren't?

"I believe only one thing: the law will deliver a fair verdict. The guilty must be punished. Murderers must answer for their crimes."

"Florence's" expression darkened completely.

"Paloma Kane, you don't have any powerful connections, yet somehow you became a judge at such a young age. Who knows how many men you've slept with behind the scenes to get where you are? Who are you trying to impress with this act?

"I tried being reasonable, but you refused to listen. And once you've offended the Kane family, don't expect a happy ending."