Mag-log inAurelia met his eyes without backing down. âWe will find out. But until then, you cannot turn unanswered questions into proof of murder.âSophia looked at Aurelia, clearly frightened by how quickly the evidence was piling up against her. Aurelia reached beneath the table and squeezed her hand, trying to keep her calm.âDonât panic,â Aurelia whispered. âThey want you to lose control. We are going to examine every piece of this evidence, and we will find the truth.âBefore Sophia could respond, Mr. Harling picked up another document and walked toward the screen.âThis is a payment receipt,â he said. âAccording to these records, millions of dollars were transferred to Rebecca Stein through an offshore account connected to you. We managed to recover the transactions.âSophiaâs eyes widened. âThatâs a lie. I never sent Rebecca millions of dollars.âMr. Harling pointed toward the screen. âThen how do you explain your signature on these transfers?âThe document appeared on the screen, showin
NEW YORK CITY COURTHOUSE â COURTROOM 7 â 10:00 AMThe courtroom was packed. Reporters filled the back rows, their pens moving quickly as they recorded every word. Everyone had come to hear the latest development in the murder case that had kept the city talking for weeks.At the prosecution table sat Mr. Harling, the lawyer representing Rebecca Steinâs estate. He was a short, stocky man with a bald head and sharp eyes.He had been waiting for this moment for months, and from the way he watched Sophia, it was clear he was determined to see her convicted.Behind the bench sat Judge Morrison, an older man with glasses and a stern expression. He was known for having little patience for unnecessary arguments, and today was no different.He struck his gavel against the desk. âWe are here today for the case of the People versus Sophia Langston Blackwood,â Judge Morrison announced. âThe defendant is charged with the murder of Rebecca Stein. Mr. Harling, you may proceed.âMr. Harling rose from
A collective gasp swept through the garden. Gabriella shook her head violently. âNo. No, you canât do this. You love me.âAlejandro looked at her with disappointment. âI thought I did.âAlejandro dropped the ring into Gabriellaâs trembling hand, but after a moment, his expression changed. He looked at her for several seconds before letting out a quiet sigh.âBut on second thought, maybe the devil you know is better than the angel you donât know. Gabriella, everything you did, you did because you wanted me. You were betrothed to me when we were little kids. We were supposed to grow up and get married, but I broke that engagement and married my brotherâs widow, Amelia, instead. So I canât completely blame you for fighting for me. You wanted the man you were promised to, and you were willing to do whatever it took to have me.âSerenaâs mouth fell open. She stared at her brother as if he had completely lost his mind. âWhat the hell are you saying? Are you insane?âAlejandro ignored her an
Gabriella nodded, tears gathering in her eyes as she looked at Alejandro. âYes. Everything I did, I did for us. I wanted you, and I wanted the life we have now. I thought if Amelia was out of the way, we could finally be together.âAlejandro let out a bitter laugh and shook his head. âFor us? You keep saying that like what you did was some kind of sacrifice. There is no âus,â Gabriella. Not anymore.âMarisa sat in her wheelchair, her face twisted with rage as she watched everything fall apart. She pointed angrily at Amelia and shouted, âYouâll regret this! Youâll regret coming here and ruining my sonâs wedding!âAmelia slowly touched her cheek. The spot where Marisa had slapped her was still red and stinging, but she refused to shed a single tear. Instead, a small smile appeared on her face. It was calm and cold enough to make Marisaâs anger falter.âThank you,â Amelia said.Marisa frowned, clearly confused by her response. âThank you? What the hell are you thanking me for?âAmelia re
Amelia stopped and slowly turned around. Marisaâs face was filled with rage as she rolled her wheelchair closer, her eyes burning with anger.âYou think you can walk into my sonâs wedding, accuse everyone of things you know nothing about, and then simply leave?â âI know exactly what happened,â Amelia replied calmly. âYou know nothing!â Marisa snapped. She rolled even closer before taking a shaky breath. âI know who poisoned Gabriella.â Ameliaâs eyes narrowed immediately. Marisa studied her for a moment before continuing in a colder voice. âBut it wasnât what you think.â Alejandro stared at his mother in confusion. âMom?â Marisa ignored him and kept her eyes on Amelia. âIt was a plan.â Amelia frowned. âWhat plan?â âA plan created by me and Gabriella,â Marisa admitted. Gabriellaâs face went completely pale. âMotherâŠâ But Marisa continued as though she hadnât heard her. âWe wanted to drive you away.â The garden erupted in shocked whispers. Amelia stood frozen, staring at Marisa
Amelia stopped and slowly turned around. Marisaâs face was filled with rage as she rolled her wheelchair closer, her eyes burning with anger.âYou think you can walk into my sonâs wedding, accuse everyone of things you know nothing about, and then simply leave?ââI know exactly what happened,â Amelia replied calmly.âYou know nothing!â Marisa snapped. She rolled even closer before taking a shaky breath. âI know who poisoned Gabriella.âAmeliaâs eyes narrowed immediately. Marisa studied her for a moment before continuing in a colder voice. âBut it wasnât what you think.âAlejandro stared at his mother in confusion. âMom?âMarisa ignored him and kept her eyes on Amelia. âIt was a plan.âAmelia frowned. âWhat plan?ââA plan created by me and Gabriella,â Marisa admitted.Gabriellaâs face went completely pale. âMotherâŠâBut Marisa continued as though she hadnât heard her. âWe wanted to drive you away.âThe garden erupted in shocked whispers. Amelia stood frozen, staring at Marisa as if she
BLACKWOOD INDUSTRIES ~ NEW YORK Katherina slipped Nicholas Haleâs card into her folder and closed it.Control. That was the word. And that was what she needed to hold on to.She straightened her blazer, smoothed her face, and returned to her desk as if nothing had happened. As if the air in the ro
Marisa jabbed a finger at Amelia. âYes. You.âThe room went quiet.Alejandro tensed. âMother, donât.ââNo,â Marisa said, her voice cold. âYou donât get to shield her. Let me speak.âShe stepped closer to Amelia. âYou show up here⊠and suddenly the Guerras strike. You have ties to the Blackwoods. To
THE FAVINO ESTATE â LATE MORNINGThe house felt different after Marisa left.Amelia noticed it first.The servants moved softly, avoiding eye contact. Phones were kept on silent. Even the sunlight pouring through the tall windows felt restrained, like it didnât want to interrupt whatever storm was
KATHERINA APARTMENT ~ NEW YORKRyanâs voice dropped, turning cold. âGood. Iâll send you a secure line. Nobody can know weâre working together. Not Damien. Not the board. No one.âKatherina smirked and leaned back in her chair.âPlease. Damien has so many problems piled on his head, he wouldnât noti







