Chapter 17

• The trial began, and Ava's nerves were palpable as she sat in the courtroom. She knew the odds were stacked against her, and the power dynamic between her and Adrian was starkly evident. Adrian, on the other hand, looked at Ava with a mix of sadness and hurt, his eyes lingering on her as if trying to understand why she had kept his child a secret.
• As the proceedings unfolded, several concessions were made, and then Luke was called to the dock. Adrian's lawyer, confident and poised, began questioning Luke.
• "Tell us, Luke, what happened that day," the lawyer asked, his tone dripping with skepticism. "And please, for the benefit of the court, make it clear that the allegations against you are nothing but lies, a conspiracy to extort money from your family."