บททั้งหมดของ The Second Wife's Revenge : บทที่ 51 - บทที่ 60

Three months after Flynn Lancaster was sentenced to life in prison, I walked into the office building that bore Gloria's name and felt something I hadn't felt in years: hope.The Gloria Martinez Foundation occupied the entire fifth floor of a renovated building in Chelsea. Seventeen employees. A waiting list of six hundred women needing help. A legal team that had already won twelve cases.And me, trying to figure out how to be the face of an organization when I was still figuring out who I was.The elevator opened. Warm light. Modern furniture. Plants everywhere. Deliberately unlike Flynn's cold aesthetic.Emily Sterling met me at reception. "Morning. We have eight urgent cases today.""Eight?""Woman being drugged by her husband. Two domestic violence situations requiring immediate extraction. Five restraining order hearings."My chest tightened. Every case felt personal.Rachel appeared from her office. Files in hand. "Aria, we need to discuss the drugging case. She's been getting

Assistant US Attorney Jennifer Marks spread crime scene photos across the conference table like a deck of cards. Gloria's house. Daniel Torres's car. Three other murder scenes I'd never heard of. "Julian Cross is responsible for all of these. And more. But we can only prove what we have evidence for." I stared at Gloria's photo. The living room where we'd had tea. Now a crime scene. "Tell me what you need from me." "Everything." The federal prosecutor's office was sterile. Fluorescent lights. White walls. Everything designed to intimidate. Jennifer was forties. Sharp suit. Sharper mind. She'd been building this case for eight months. "Cross is facing twelve counts of murder conspiracy. Plus racketeering, money laundering, witness tampering. Our strongest case is Gloria Martinez. We have emails, money trail, the nurse's confession." "The nurse confessed?" "Covenant operative who administered the potassium chloride. Arrested last week. Flipped immediately. Testified Cro

Martin Schaffer stood to cross-examine the nurse, and I watched him transform. The grandfatherly charm evaporated. In its place: a predator."Ms. Wallace," he began, voice dripping with contempt, "you're a confessed serial killer, correct?"Patricia Wallace flinched. "I... yes.""And you're testifying today in exchange for a deal that lets you out of prison in fifteen years instead of life?""Yes.""So you have every reason to lie to help yourself. Don't you?"And so it began.Schaffer paced in front of the witness box. Circling. Hunting."Ms. Wallace, you claim Mr. Cross personally ordered you to kill Gloria Martinez?""Yes.""Did you record this conversation?""No.""Did anyone else hear it?""No. He called my cell phone.""So we only have your word?""Yes, but…""A word from a woman who's admitted to murdering five people?"Jennifer stood. "Objection."Judge Walsh didn't even pause. "Overruled. Answer the question."Patricia's voice shook. "I'm telling the truth.""Are you? Let's t

Jennifer Marks approached the witness stand with kind eyes."Ms. Winters, thank you for being here today. I know this is difficult."I nodded. Couldn't speak yet. Throat too tight.She smiled. "Let's start at the beginning. Tell the jury how you met Flynn Lancaster."And so I began. The story I'd told a hundred times. But this time, under oath. This time, with Julian Cross watching. This time, for Gloria."When did you meet Flynn Lancaster?""Three years ago. March fifteenth. At a coffee shop.""What happened?""He sat beside me. Started a conversation. Asked if I wanted to get coffee sometime.""Did you go?""Yes. We talked for hours. He was charming. Attentive. Everything I thought I wanted.""When did the relationship become serious?""Fast. Too fast. But I didn't see it then. Within two weeks, we were exclusive. Within a month, he was talking about marriage.""Did that seem rushed?""Yes. But he said when you know, you know. And I wanted to believe him.""Why?"My voice caught. "B

The courtroom felt different on closing arguments day. Heavier. More final.Like everyone knew this was it. No more witnesses. No more evidence. Just two lawyers and their final chance to convince twelve people that their version of truth was the right one.Jennifer Marks stood first. Confident. Prepared. Ready to fight for Gloria. Ready to fight for justice."Ladies and gentlemen," she began, "this is a case about a man who believed he was above the law. Let me show you why he was wrong."She walked to the jury box. Made eye contact with each member."You've heard testimony from eleven witnesses. FBI agents. Financial experts. Covenant insiders. The nurse who committed the murders. Flynn Lancaster. Victor Ashford. And Aria Winters. Eleven people. All saying the same thing: Julian Cross ran a criminal organization. He ordered murders. He laundered money. He corrupted officials."She paused. Let it sink in."Now, the defense wants you to believe these eleven people are all lying. That