เข้าสู่ระบบI settled into my chair behind my desk and gestured for Claire to take the seat opposite me. She sat down, placed her briefcase beside her, and exhaled. “I have a feeling the rumors are only going to get worse.” I had expected that to be the first thing out of her mouth. “I’ve seen them.” I said. “Then you know what they’re saying.” “That you slept with professors in exchange for grades. That you used inappropriate relationships to advance your academic career. That the photograph of you with a Professor is proof of something improper.” I listed. Her jaw tightened. “It’s ridiculous!” “I agree.” “I never dated a professor, Margot. I never slept with one!”I nodded. “I know.” “Then why does it feel as though I have to keep defending myself against something that never happened?” I watched her for a moment. Because I knew the answer. People often believed the accusation they heard first. By the time the truth arrived, many had already decided what they wanted to
The first thing I noticed when I walked into Sinclair & Co. was the silence. Not the usual, comfortable silence of a busy office where everyone was too occupied to talk. This was the kind of silence that took over when a room full of people saw something they hadn’t expected. I stood just inside the entrance, my cane firmly planted beside my right foot as I watched them. Jonathan was the first to notice me. He stopped halfway through a conversation with Laurel, his mouth falling open slightly. Then Laurel turned around, and her eyes widened. “Oh, my God.” I smiled. “Good morning to you too, Laurel.” She hurried toward me so quickly that I almost laughed. “Margot!” Jonathan followed, looking as though he couldn’t decide whether to hug me or inspect me for signs of a miraculous recovery. “You’re standing.” “An astute observation, Jonathan.” “No, I mean—you’re actually standing.” “I assure you, I’m not floating.” Laurel laughed again, but her eyes had alrea
The judge allowed the defense attorney to continue, but the atmosphere in the courtroom had changed. The easy confidence he had displayed earlier was gone. He spoke more carefully now, choosing his words as though every sentence might be used against him. “Your Honor, the defense maintains that it is unfair for the allegations against Ms. Sterling to be treated as established facts before the court has had the opportunity to examine all the relevant evidence,” he stated. “My client disputes the claim that she fabricated her pregnancy, and she denies the allegation that she deliberately misrepresented the circumstances of her miscarriage.” He paused, glancing briefly at Eva before facing the judge again. “This is a good woman—who has lost her entire career because of this scandal. She has made bad decisions, but she is vulnerable! She is upright!” He said, gesturing towards Eva. Everyone was listening very closely. “She simply maintains that Mr. Dhark behaved aggressive
The courtroom had barely settled after the judge dismissed the defense’s attempt to drag my university rumors into the proceedings when Eva’s attorney rose to his feet again. “Your Honor, the defense would like to address the prosecution’s repeated characterization of my client as a liar.” Here we go. I straightened in my seat. The attorney adjusted his tie and turned toward the judge with the confidence of a man who believed he could make anything sound reasonable if he spoke thoroughly enough. “Throughout these proceedings, the plaintiff and his team has attempted to portray Ms. Sterling as someone who fabricated an entire pregnancy, invented a miscarriage, and deliberately deceived Mr. Dhark,” he stated. “Yet the evidence presented so far does not establish that my client was never pregnant. Nor does it conclusively establish that Mr. Dhark did not physically assault her.” A few people in the gallery shifted in their seats. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Eva no
I noticed Eva, sitting with her head high before I even reached my seat. For the first time since the proceedings began, she had arrived before me. She sat beside her legal team, looking composed and impeccably dressed. Her hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, and her makeup was flawless. If I hadn’t known what she had done, I might have mistaken her for a woman who had never caused anyone harm. Then she looked up and our eyes met. Eva smiled. It was small enough that nobody else might have noticed it. But I did. There was no nervousness in her expression. No uncertainty, no trace of the desperation she had displayed when Hart’s testimony began unraveling her carefully constructed lies or when she had approached me with the hope that I could somehow convince Lucian to withdraw the charges. Today, she looked pleased with herself. Triumphant, even. My fingers curled around the strap of my bag. She did this. The thought came so suddenly that it felt li
I was reviewing the documents for the hearing when Nathaniel arrived. He didn’t knock before entering the Sinclair&co conference room. He simply appeared in the doorway, his gaze finding me immediately. “Claire.” I looked up. “Nathaniel?” He crossed the room without another word and pulled me into a brief hug. For a moment, I stood there, surprised by the gesture. Then I hugged him back. “What are you doing here?” “I heard what happened.” Of course he had. By now, I suspected half the city must have heard what happened. Nathaniel pulled away and studied my face for a few seconds. “How are you holding up?” I almost told him I was fine. The words were already forming in my mouth when I realized how ridiculous they would sound. “Terribly,” I admitted. His expression softened. “I’m sorry.” I swallowed. “I don’t understand why someone would do this.” “Have you identified the woman making the accusations?” “No. Apparently, she’s a former university friend







