Chapter 10
For a heartbeat, the courthouse steps went so silent you could hear a pin drop.
Hailey clutched her numb cheek, eyes wide in disbelief.
She hadn’t expected me to strike her.
After all, I had always been the one to endure in silence.
But she killed Sophie.
A mother’s love makes even the meek fierce.
“Hailey, did you really think I’d just let this go?”
“You kidnapped Sophie, strapped a bomb to her, and set her up to be blown to pieces. I
remember every single thing you did.”
“And trust me, this is nowhere near the end of your punishment.”
Her body trembled, but the glare she leveled at me was laced with venom.
“Natalie, I’m already like this and you still won’t leave me alone?”
“Ryan only sided with you for a moment-he loves me!”
Before she could spit out another lie, Ryan finally arrived, yanking her toward him and slapping
her hard across the face.
“What the hell are you talking about? When have I ever said I love you? The only woman I’ve
ever loved is Natalie!”
Like a pathetic lapdog, he rushed to me, scrambling to explain.
“I only helped her because I thought she was innocent. My heart’s never changed, Natalie. You
have to believe me.”
The sight of him groveling turned my stomach.
I shoved him off.
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“Who you
love is none of my business. Just stop putting on an act in front of me-it only
makes me sick.”
I left him standing there and pulled Lucas Morgan into the courtroom with me.
When the hearing began, Ryan laid everything bare, without a single defense attorney at his
side.
It was obvious he had no intention of denying any of it.
Hailey, however, lost her mind completely.
“Ryan, are you insane?” she screamed.
“You’re throwing away your career, wasting half a lifetime of work, and dragging me down with
you! Is she worth that?”
Ryan’s fist cracked against her face.
“You deserve every punishment you get. If I could bring Sophie back by killing you, I’d have
done it a thousand times over.”
They lunged at each other like rabid dogs until court officers finally tore them apart.
Lucas presented the compiled evidence, his voice cold and firm.
“Ryan not only had an affair with Hailey, he deliberately caused his own daughter’s death. His crimes are unforgivable.”
“I request the court to strip Ryan of his bomb disposal certification, permanently barring him from the profession.”
“And I move that Ryan and the victim’s mother, Natalie, be granted a divorce.”
“No!” Ryan slammed his hands on the table, shooting to his feet.
“Natalie will always be my wife. I’d rather die than divorce her!”
He turned on Lucas, his voice laced with accusation.
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“Lucas Morgan, what’s your real agenda? I think you’ve been using your position to get close
to your niece!”
“Shut up, Ryan!” I snapped, fury burning in my voice.
“You know exactly why I’m divorcing you. Do you really need me to spell it out?”
His bluster died instantly. Bloodshot eyes locked on me, and for once, he stayed quiet.
With the judge’s gavel strike, my marriage to him was officially over.
The two of them left in handcuffs-Hailey thrashing and shrieking, Ryan silent, his gaze
clinging to me as if to etch my face into his memory.
I didn’t spare him another glance.
Outside, Lucas draped his coat over my shoulders.
“It’s finally over,” he murmured.
I looked toward the streaks of sunset and drew in a deep breath.
“No, Uncle Lucas… it’s finally a new beginning.”
The evening sky glowed in soft shades of gold and crimson, and in it, I could almost see
Sophie’s sweet little face.
I would carry her memory with me, and I would live-truly live-for both of us.
Chapter 10
