บททั้งหมดของ Married Twice, Loved Once : บทที่ 221 - บทที่ 230

9:00 A.M. — High CourtThe courtroom was packed.Reporters filled the back rows, their cameras ready.The case had attracted public attention for weeks, but today was different.Today, Richard Carter would finally hear his fate.Aria wasn't there.She remained in police custody, waiting for her own court proceedings.But the people connected to Clara were present.Ethan Cole sat at the prosecution table, his files arranged neatly in front of him.Across the courtroom sat Richard.For the first time in years, he looked like a man who had finally run out of places to hide.His lawyer leaned toward him.“Mr. Carter, remain calm.”Richard said nothing.His eyes remained fixed on the judge.Ethan stood when the judge entered.“Everyone rise.”The courtroom fell silent.The judge took his seat.“Be seated.”Everyone sat.The judge looked down at the documents before him.“Mr. Richard Carter, this court has reviewed the evidence presented in the case concerning the death of Clara Lawrence, t

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

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.

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

One Year Later7:30 A.M. — Women's Correctional FacilityThe sound of the morning bell echoed through the prison.Aria opened her eyes.For a few seconds, she remained still.Then she slowly sat up.One year.It had been one year since the courtroom.One year since the judge had looked at her and sentenced her to five years in prison.One year since she had watched the handcuffs close around her wrists.One year since she had walked away from the life she once knew.Aria looked around the small cell.By now, she knew every corner of it.The narrow bed.The small window.The cold walls.The silence that came after the lights went out at night.In the beginning, she had hated all of it.She had hated waking up there.She had hated the uniforms.The rules.The locked doors.The constant reminder that she couldn't simply walk away.For the first few months, she had counted the days.Then the weeks.Then the months.Eventually, she stopped counting.Not because she had forgotten how long s