“You said Jonathan Ashford killed her.”
“He destroyed her.”
“You said Nathaniel died.”
Calloway’s eyes flicked toward the cameras.
That tiny glance told her everything.
Celeste smiled.
It was not beautiful anymore.
It was broken.
“You lied to me too.”
Calloway’s face hardened. “I gave you purpose.”
“No,” she said. “You gave me a target.”
Then she stepped away from me.
The courthouse was chaos. Reporters shouted. Security men clashed near the columns. My mother moved toward Samuel with terrifying focus. My father appeared behind her despite every instruction not to, because of course he did.
Nathaniel struggled against the men holding him.
“Let him go!” my father roared.
For the first time in twenty-seven years, father and son stood in the same room.
The sight hit everyone.
Even the guards hesitated.
That was enough.
Mara’s team surged forward.
One guard went down. Then another.
Nathaniel broke free and stumbled toward my parents.
