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Hadley wanted to laugh, and the reason was obvious. In this world, there were far too few people who genuinely upheld justice."Marlon, does it really matter if I confess or not? Do you think you can fight me for very long as Jude’s lackey?In these circles of power, everyone is merely attempting to rise higher. Are you more brutal than Jude? You make things simpler for him, to put it politely. You're merely a disposable pawn if we're being completely honest."No one was more crafty than Jude.It would be difficult for her to escape unharmed.However, she was ready.Jude had a consistent flow of money and was in charge of multiple criminal groups. There were plenty of individuals willing to carry out his orders, so he remained undercover.He was now making every effort to live a respectable life and repair his reputation.However, his history could not be erased.Marlon froze. He gazed at her serene, beautiful features and clear eyes. He had never met someone like her before.There was

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Derek glanced at the female reporter, his gaze narrowing quickly. She had been influencing public opinion against Hadley since the start of the live broadcast. "Wait for the official website update, and you'll know the truth," Derek clarified.The female reporter refused to give up. She remarked, "Captain Larsen, isn't there some inside story here? Why was she abruptly freed yet she is a murderer? And the individual who picked her up was driving a limited-edition luxury automobile..."The reporter didn't finish her sentence, but it left the audience to imagine the remainder.There was a lot of activity in the live conversation. "Is there a potential deal? For the privileged, sites like this mean nothing.""Wait, is Hadley even rich? The cop claimed they'd divulge the truth, so why is this reporter so relentless?"Derek squinted at her."I've been watching you steer the narrative against Hadley ever since the live show began. I now have cause to suspect you of defamation. You'll have t

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Jude had come to a painful realization: Hadley was a ticking time bomb. "She needs to face the consequences for what she's done, but we can't be the ones to do it," Jude said in a somber and serious tone. “She had no idea where the stuff was, and keeping her around would only make matters more difficult.Instead of causing Hadley any issues, each of these occurrences had resulted in defeats for their side.Anger blazed in Laura’s eyes. "Obviously, Dad, we can't get our hands dirty. But I've got a plan, and I'll take care of it myself."Jude knew his daughter had her talents, but he felt it important to put down some ground rules. "I've already told you, Lau—Drew isn't the best option. If you're prepared to give him up, I can arrange for you to marry Pedro. He's got a prestigious history and is certainly the appropriate match for you.""You mean his father's death, right?" mocked Laura.Jude’s eyes grew wide with astonishment. "You know about that?""Obviously. When I first fell for Dr

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After Chuck connected some wires, they located the listening devices under the bed and under the chair."I've seen this somewhere," Hadley said, trying to remember where."Where?" Asher asked.After a few seconds, Hadley finally remembered. "At the Beck Villa. Yes, that's where I saw this.""That means it was Laura all along, I was right," Harry chimed in.Cait yelled in anger at that moment, "How dare she? I'm calling the police.""Show proof that Laura is the one. I can't just believe you just because you said Laura is the one, Hadley. Show proof," Andrew said."Here's proof," someone suddenly said from behind.When everyone turned, it was Ercell. Hadley's eyes lit up in surprise on finally seeing Ercell and she ran to hug her. After hugging for a few seconds, Hadley finally released her."When did you come back?" Hadley asked."I came back two days ago. As suspected, Laura was the one who asked Jemima Rexa to frame you. I have the evidence here. I went to the Beck Villa to confront

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A thick, oppressive blanket of suspense descended upon the gallery in the courtroom. The frigid, marble-lined room was not warmed by the sunlight that shone through the large, arched windows, revealing dust motes whirling in the motionless air. With her hands firmly clutched in her lap, Hadley sat in the front row with her back rigidly straight. Her friends and parents created a silent wall of support next to her. Her peripheral vision was focused on the three defendants, Jude, Laura, and Mary, while her eyes were concentrated on the judge. A scene of resistance, fear, and false resignation, they stood in the dock.The reverberation seemed to reverberate in Hadley's bones even though the gavel had dropped hours earlier. The trial had been a torturous experience, a public analysis of deceit, falsehoods, and a darkness so deep that she began to doubt the very character of the individuals she had previously accepted into her life. Following their initial arrest, the police conducted fur

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Three days later, a distinct kind of energy permeated Fern Enterprises' enormous headquarters. There was a tangible air of wonder and eagerness that contrasted with the typical buzz of business. The day prior, the board of directors sent out an official email announcing the appointment of a new CEO. Since the elderly and reclusive former CEO announced his retirement, the whispers had been circulating for years. Many had thought it would be a distant relative, maybe an elderly, grey-haired businessman from an unfamiliar branch of the family. It was shocking to see how young the woman standing in front of the main meeting room was.With her fitted navy-blue suit a tribute to her new profession, Hadley stood with a quiet assurance. Her eyes, which had previously been filled with suffering and betrayal, now had a keen, perceptive gleam, and her hair was tied back in a sleek, businesslike bun. She surveyed the room, taking in the sea of shocked expressions. A few jaws fell, and there were