~LAYLA~
"How long?" I demanded. "How long have you been keeping her? Where was she?"
Before Axel could answer, Judge Reynolds banged her gavel.
"Given the significant testimony presented today, the court will adjourn until Friday at nine AM for closing statents." She surveyed the courtroom with stern authority. "Jury, you are reminded not to discuss this case with anyone or consu any dia coverage. Court is adjourned."
Another bang of the gavel, and the room erupted into movent, with the jury filing out.
Reporters scrambled for the exits, already typing on their phones. Cassandra was frozen at the defence table, looking pale, while Charles Watson leaned in to whisper sothing to her.
I stood on shaky legs, feeling like the ground might give way beneath . Axel’s hand grazed my elbow, trying to steady , but I pulled away sharply. His secrecy felt like a fresh wound.
How could he? How could he hide Erica from all this ti?
"Layla, we need to talk about this," Axel said quietly.
"Not here." My voice ca out colder than I intended. "Not now."
Brennan appeared beside us with a wide grin. "That was incredible. Erica’s testimony sealed it; Cassandra’s done. Between the dashcam footage, the brake sabotage report, and now docunted proof of corporate espionage and defamation, there’s no way she walks away from this."
"That’s good," I said chanically. "That’s... good."
"Good? Layla, this is better than good. We’ve got her on multiple felony counts. She’s looking at serious prison ti." Brennan’s enthusiasm faltered when he saw my expression. "Are you okay?"
"I’m fine. Just tired."
"Of course. It’s been a long day. Get so rest, and we’ll reconvene for closing statents. This is almost over."
Axel shook Brennan’s hand. "Thank you for everything."
"Just doing my job. And having a witness like Erica? That made my job a whole lot easier." He glanced between us, sensing the tension. "I’ll see you both soon."
As we made our way through the courthouse hallway, I kept my eyes forward, refusing to look at Axel. Our security team ford a protective barrier around us, keeping the remaining reporters at bay.
"Layla!"
The voice stopped cold. I turned to see Erica standing a few feet away, flanked by two federal marshals. Her face was pale, her eyes red-rimd from crying.
"Layla, can we talk? Please? Just for a minute?"
I froze, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Part of wanted to leave, to never see her face again. But another part... the part that rembered our friendship, the good tis before everything fell apart... that part couldn’t just walk away.
"You have one minute," I said.
Axel started to object. "Layla, you don’t have to..."
"One minute," I repeated, cutting him off.
Erica took a hesitant step closer. "I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I know what I did was unforgivable. But I need you to understand..."
"I always knew you betrayed ," I interrupted. "For a long ti now, I knew. But hearing it today, hearing you say that you believed Cassandra’s story about ruining your father’s business..." I shook my head. "I’m disappointed, Erica. In you. In how easily you believed I could do sothing like that."
Her eyes welled up with fresh tears. "I was angry. My dad lost everything, and I needed soone to bla. When Cassandra gave a target, I took it. I didn’t question it because I didn’t want to."
"That’s the worst part. You didn’t even try to ask . To give a chance to explain. You just decided I was guilty and went after ."
"I know. I know, and I’m sorry. God, Layla, I’m so sorry."
"Your sorry doesn’t fix what you broke." I took a step back. "You invaded my ho. You pretended to be my friend. You tried to destroy everything I built. And for what? A lie soone told you?"
"I was wrong—"
"You were wrong, and now you’re here trying to save yourself by testifying against Cassandra. That’s not redemption, Erica. That’s self-preservation."
Her face crumpled. "I know. But it’s the truth. Everything I said in there was the truth."
"I don’t doubt that. But it doesn’t change what you did to ." I turned away. "Goodbye, Erica."
"Layla, please..."
"Goodbye."
I walked away before she could say anything else, before the tears threatening to fall could actually escape. Axel followed silently, and I was grateful he didn’t try to comfort . I wasn’t ready for comfort from him either.
Outside the courthouse, the afternoon sun was too bright, too cheerful for how I felt. We climbed into the car, and the mont the door closed, silence settled over us.
The city blurred past the window as we drove ho. I watched the buildings and people without really seeing them, my mind replaying Erica’s testimony over and over.
At ho, I dropped my bag by the door and turned to face Axel, the question that had been burning inside finally erupting.
"You hid her, Axel. Erica. You had her in your custody for weeks, and you didn’t tell . Why?"
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every line of his body. "I was protecting you."
"Protecting ?" I repeated incredulously. "From what?"
"From this. From exactly what’s happening right now." He stepped closer. "You were drowning in the trial, in Cassandra’s lies and Charles’s threats. I didn’t want her betrayal to break you when you needed to stay strong."
"Break ?" I laughed, but there was no humour in it. "You broke by lying. We’re supposed to be a team now... after the retreat, after the vows we made to each other... and you kept this from like I’m so fragile thing that needs protection!"
"I never thought you were fragile," Axel snapped. "I thought you needed focus to win this trial. To beat Cassandra. And I was right, you were incredible today because you weren’t distracted by Erica’s presence."
"Distracted?" My voice rose. "You think keeping secrets is the sa as helping focus?"
"I made a strategic decision..."
"No, you made a decision for without asking what I wanted. Without trusting to handle the truth."
"I was trying to protect the case. If you’d known we had Erica, you might have..."
"I might have what? Demanded to confront her? Refused to let you use her as a witness? Is that what you thought?" I shook my head. "You didn’t trust , Axel. That’s what this cos down to."
"That’s not true..."
"Then what is it? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you decided I couldn’t handle knowing she was being held sowhere, being questioned, and being prepared to testify. You took that choice away from ."
Axel’s jaw clenched. "I did what I thought was necessary."
"For the case or for us?"
"For both!"
"Well, you were wrong." I crossed my arms, feeling suddenly exhausted. "We’re winning the trial, Axel. You just didn’t trust enough to tell the truth, which is fine, actually. I just thought after everything... after the retreat, after last night, after all the promises we made... I thought we agreed to no more secrets."
The words hung between us.
"Layla..."
"I need so space." I headed toward the stairs. "I’m going to my room."
"Your room?" He followed . "You an our room. You’ve been sleeping in our room."
"Not tonight." I didn’t turn around; I couldn’t bear to see the hurt on his face that would mirror my own. "Tonight, I need to be alone."
"Layla, please. Let explain..."
"Explain what? That you thought I was too weak to handle the truth? That you made...
"I love you."
Reviews
All reviews (0)