The courthouse was a hive of tension and whispered murmurs as Cassandra’s bail hearing was underway. The final steps were being taken to secure Cassandra’s release. Michael had arranged for a reputable lawyer to represent her, and Rose watched the proceedings from a distance, nerves frayed as she tried to mask her dread. The lawyer was confident Cassandra would be out on bail by the end of the day, and she could already see the smug expression starting to form on Cassandra’s face.
Michael sat at the back of the courtroom, his expression stoic, even as he sensed the simmering resentment coming from Derek and Lisa, who sat a few inches away. They were visibly seething, their arms crossed, eyes narrowing at Michael. Derek’s jaw was clenched, and Lisa couldn’t contain her glare, her anger alm
