"Oh, it goes far beyond friendship, Alistair," Robert said softly, his dark eyes gleaming with a mixture of smug satisfaction and thinly veiled contempt. "Sara and I go back to our childhood years in the Western Commonwealth, before her family suffered financial ruin and was forced to retreat to this backwater city. I was the one who held her hand when she was nothing, and I was the one watching from afar while you treated her like an inconvenient footnote in your life.”Alistair tilted his head slightly, his golden eyes observing the subtle twitch in Robert’s jaw. "Is that why you staged her murder? To play the tragic savior returning to avenge her honor?"Robert’s smile broadened, though it failed to reach his eyes. "Staged? My dear Alistair, the court system doesn't care about semantics. To the Haven Police Department, the High Magistrate, and every single news station across the continent, Sara Connor is dead. And you—the cold, unfeeling ex-husband who couldn't bear to see her mov

"The court is now in session," Magistrate Vane announced, his voice echoing loudly in the vacant hall. "The defendant, Alistair Reid, stands accused of abduction and the first-degree murder of Sara Connor."Vane leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the solitary man standing in the center of the room."Defendant Reid," Vane intoned coldly. "You stand before this tribunal without legal representation, facing overwhelming physical and digital evidence provided by the prosecution. Before we proceed to the formal reading of the verdict... Do you have anything to say?”Alistair raised his head slightly, his golden eyes sweeping over the grand, empty tribunal hall with faint, mocking indifference."I deny all charges," Alistair said smoothly, his voice echoing with absolute clarity against the high marble walls. "And as for having anything to say... I find this entire farce rather amusing. You call this a court of law, yet you conduct a trial behind closed doors, bar my allies

Snap.The delicate crystal stem in Robert’s hand shattered.Dark red wine splashed across his pristine white cuffs, dripping onto the polished marble floor like fresh blood."What... what did you just say?" Robert whispered, his face draining of all color in a split second. "Patrick confessed?! Are you insane?! The Connor family was paid twenty million dollars! Why would he—""He went completely rogue! He overturned the prosecution table and demanded to be arrested!" the prosecutor yelled back, sheer horror lacing his tone. "The judge had no choice! The trial was suspended for an emergency investigation, and Reid... Reid exploited the legal loop! He demanded his immediate release for lack of evidence!"Robert’s heart slammed against his ribs like a heavy iron hammer. "Magistrate Vane... Vane held him, right? He used the security decree to keep him in the cell!""Vane couldn't hold him! He had to sign the release order!" the lawyer wept frantically. "Alistair Reid is free! He just walk

Robert swallowed hard, his eyes darting frantically as panic seized his throat. "I... I don't know her exact coordinates! I swear on my life, Alistair, I'm telling the truth!"Alistair tilted his head, a cold edge rising in the basement air."I really don't!" Robert wept hysterically, shaking his head violently. "When my colleagues abducted her from her residence, they bypassed me entirely! All I know is that they planned to transport her to Valenhold's underground auctions! She... she possesses a rare spirit-veil physique and exceptional beauty, so they marked her for high-value export! They're planning to sell her off to the highest bidder at the central market!”Alistair observed the trembling young man for a long, silent moment.His golden gaze remained fixed on Robert's terrified eyes, reading every micro-expression and listening to the erratic rhythm of his panicked heartbeat.There was no deceit in his aura.Fear had thoroughly stripped Robert Stallone of any capacity to lie."

Patrick looked down at his cuffed hands, the heavy iron links resting against the steel table."But sitting in this cell... it forces you to drop the illusions. When Don Vito’s men had a knife to my throat, it wasn't the Connor family title or the company shares that mattered. Sara was the only one who didn't give up on me, even when I was dragging her name through the mud. And then you stepped in."Patrick looked back up at Alistair, his gaze clear and unfaltering."She built that company. She earned every bit of respect my father gave her. I was just an entitled idiot throwing tantrums because I wasn't handed a throne I never worked for. She’s my sister, Alistair. Whatever petty hatred I held onto... it doesn't mean a damn thing compared to her life."Alistair remained still, his golden eyes analyzing every shift in Patrick’s posture, measuring the weight behind each word.The impulsive, spoiled heir of the Connor family was gone; in his place sat a man who had finally confronted hi