On the day of the trial, Chloe stepped into the courtroom and took her seat opposite the defendant's box, a thick bandage still wrapped tightly around her head.
There stood Natalie, dressed in a drab prison uniform, her wrists clinking with heavy handcuffs.
The second her eyes locked onto Chloe, blazing resentment and bitter refusal to accept her fate burned in her gaze. She probably thought that once her father pulled enough high‑society strings, Chloe would back down and agree to an out‑of‑court settlement in the end.
Brandon was also there, sitting right beside her as a co‑defendant, waiting for his verdict. He had lost so much weight he was barely half the size he used to be. His skin was sallow and gaunt, completely stripped of the sleek, polished look he used to wear so proudly.
