The Steward family business had crumbled to nothing, and with it, the last fragile thread of Ester's hope to free herself unraveled.
Once, the Steward name had carried weight—doors had opened, people had listened. Now it was nothing more than a forgotten echo, buried beneath scandal and sealed court files. There was no influence left to lean on. No hand reaching out to pull her back from the edge.
The knife— the cursed piece of metal— still bore her fingerprints.
And Roseline's testimony, paired neatly with her driver's statement, closed the case with brutal efficiency. Every word had been measured. Every detail carefully placed. By the time the charges were read aloud, the outcome was no longer a question.
Attempted murder.
When the judge offered her the chance to fight for a not guilty plea, Ester didn't even lift her head.
She declined.
What was the point?
