At the door, before Clara went inside, Ethan pulled her into a quick controlled hug, more possession than affection.
Then, just like that, he turned and walked away.
Clara inhaled deeply, adjusted her blazer, and stepped into the courtroom, ready to fight. She wore a tailored navy-blue suit, crisp and sharp. Her hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail, and her eyes...steady and fierce scanned the courtroom like a hawk. Every step she took was precise and purposeful.
When the verdict was read, guilty, a wave of relief crashed over Clara... Justice had been served. People walked to her to congratulate her, but she just wanted to be alone..to take it all in.
Outside the courthouse, the press awaited like vultures. Camera flashes exploded, voices shouted to her for a statement. Clara didn't hesitate.
"Today was about truth," she said, voice steady "This verdict reminds us all: no one is above the law."
Reporters shouted questions, but she was already turning away, slipping through the crowd with practiced ease.
She escaped to her favorite quiet cafe, a small sanctuary where the scent of roasted coffee and soft jazz eased her racing thoughts. She sat by the window, watching people pass, grounding herself in the ordinary after days of chaos.
Her phone rang in her purse.
A text from Ethan. Congrats on the win.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she stared at the screen. The text was simple, but the weight behind it pressed down like a shadow.
Did he really mean it? Was it genuine or just another move in this complicated game they were tangled in? She didn't reply.
Instead, she slipped the phone back into her bag and took a deep breath, savoring the calm after the most stressful weekend of her life.
Later that evening, Clara's phone lit up, this time from her boss.
Clara, I owe you an apology. The photos in the papers... they never should have affected you or your work. Take some time off. Prepare for your wedding. We'll talk business once you're back.
As night settled over the city, Clara sat alone in her apartment, the weight of victory and secrets pressing down on her.
The case was closed, but the mess and heartache from nine years ago was far from over. Maybe Sofia was right. She needed to face it.