Chapter 11
Brandon froze, finally realizing something finally realizing something had gone horribly, irreversibly wrong
Then the judge delivered the final blow.
“According to police testimony,” he began, “both Madison Reed and her twin sister, Lillian Reed, are serial fraudsters. They hold no offshore assets–only extensive debt.”
“Lillian confessed that their entire involvement with Mr. Lancaster was financially motivated.”
“They seduced him, infiltrated his life, and staged the false cheating scandal on the eve of his son’s first birthday, intending to disgrace Claire Whitmore and seize control of Whitmore Group.”
“But Claire’s sudden decision to file for divorce disrupted everything.”
The room exploded.
“What the hell? One mistress wasn’t enough–he needed two?!”
“He’s a dumpster fire in human form. If this were the Middle Ages, he’d be hung by the neck,”
“Men like him should be struck by lightning!”
“Poor Claire… she didn’t deserve any of this.”
Public opinion turned on Brandon like a flood.
Everyone who once defended him now looked at me with sympathy–and at him with disgust.
Brandon, who had just been so self–assured, stood there dumbfounded.
He slowly turned toward Madison, his voice cracking. “You… you conned me? You used me like some puppet?!”
Madison didn’t say a word.
That’s when Brandon lost it.
He lunged at her, clawing and shaking. “You lying bitch! You ruined me! You ruined everything!”
Madison finally snapped. She shoved him off and screamed back, “Why are you blaming me?! You’re the one who couldn’t keep it in your pants!”
“If you weren’t such a pathetic little pervert, none of this would’ve worked. You just wanted to get rid of Claire!”
“You said it yourself–you were bored. Tired of her. You said you wanted something more exciting.”
“Let’s not forget it was your idea to hire trolls, fake the affair photos, destroy her online. All of it–yours!”
Her voice rose to a shriek. She slapped him–hard–once, twice–then launched into a wild frenzy, clawing, scratching. screaming.
“We lost everything because you’re a spineless moron!”
Then, in one sudden, horrifying motion–she pulled a knife from inside her coat. Gasps filled the courtroom.
Security rushed forward.
Chapter 11
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Two bailiffs tackled her to the ground before she could strike. They cuffed her and dragged her out of the courtroom,
kicking and screaming.
Brandon collapsed, trembling like a leaf, sobbing incoherently on the cold courtroom floor.
But not a single person looked at him with pity.
I stepped forward, calm and composed.
“Your Honor,” I said, taking a deep breath, “the facts are clear.”
“Please proceed with the verdict.”
Chapter 11
