Lauren shook her head, her bulging, pain-ridden eyes now wide with terror.


    "I never wanted any of this. I know I did you wrong, but I can''t go back to that miserable life. I can''t handle moving overseas, Neal. Please, just move on. We weren''t meant to be in this life-maybe the next one, or the next chapter of this one, we can be together again. Let me go! I don''t want to die—not yet!"


    "You don''t want to die?" Neal''sughter was harsh and guttural, his burned throat making him sound like some demone to collect her soul.


    "Lauren, you should''ve died a long time ago! Have you seen what a wreck your body is? Those so-called miracle pills you''re taking every month-do you really think they''re saving you? Let me tell you: they''re illegal drugs. You''re not going tost much longer. You''re dying, and it''s going to be ugly."


    Lauren''s pupils dted in panic. She shook her head desperately. "No, no, that can''t be. I spent so much money on those meds. I''ll get better. I''m not going to die. I''m not!"


    Neal''sugh grew even more frenzied. "You spent your whole life using men, Lauren, but in the end, it''s a man who brought you down!"


    He sneered, his rage boiling over. "You want to know the truth? I''m the one who gave you HIV. You wanted to get rid of me? Well, now you''ll have to carry the curse I left you straight to hell!"


    "I''ll be waiting for you down there, Lauren. We''ll be together for all eternity, never apart!"


    He lunged and seized Lauren''s arm.


    "No! Neal, let go of me! I don''t want this-let me go!" Lauren screamed in terror, her panic so overwhelming she wet herself on the spot.


    Neal looked like he might strangle her right then and there.


    But he never got the chance.


    Stewart''s men rushed in and pulled Neal away.


    Lauren fainted from sheer terror.


    She didn''t have much time left, but she couldn''t die just yet.


    Julia needed her case overturned, and both Lauren and Neal were still useful.


    Briony handed the case over to Lawyer Hughes for full oversight.


    Given Lauren''s critical condition, the Supreme Court agreed to expedite the case.


    Stewart had already filed the necessary reports well in advance.


    Officially, the case was only now being re-opened, but preparations had been underway for months.


    Nine years after the original verdict, the trial was set to begin again.


    The Kensington family got word of it, too.


    On the day of the hearing, Madeline Kensington arrived in court with Mack and several other rtives.


    Julia still hadn''t fully recovered her memory. The only people she recognized were Briony, Bryn, and a few others who''d been living with hertely-Gina, Kendal, and Ellsworth.


    After the proceedings began, Briony held Julia''s hand tightly.


    Julia was visibly anxious, ncing back over her shoulder at Kendal, who offered her a reassuring look.


    Then the court yed the video of Lauren and Neal.


    On screen, Lauren, terrified out of her mind, confessed to everything under Neal''s threats.


    Madeline fainted from rage on the spot.


    Mack stormed forward, ready to attack Lauren.


    Lauren cowered, sobbing and wailing in fear, while Neal, her co-conspirator, sat


    nearby with a twisted, inhuman grin.


    Perhaps death by firing squad would be a kind of release for him.


    The evidence was overwhelming.


    The judge''s gavel struck. The trial was over.


    Both Lauren and Neal were sentenced to death.


    Nine yearster, Julia was finally exonerated. The record was cleared. She had her life back.


    And yet, as the day finally arrived, Julia seemed more like a bystander, dazed and


    unsure.


    She sat at the intiff''s table, her daughter''s hand gripped tightly in hers.


    Mack


    twig shouting threats


    about killing Lauren, his face twisted-so much like Malcolm''s


    had


    been all those years ago


    Julia frowned, watching him.


    "Bryn..." she turned to Briony, pointing at Mack, "That man... he looks so angry. He scares me..."


    Briony gently patted her mother''s head and offered a soft smile.


    "It''s alright. He''s angry at other people. We don''t have to worry about him."


    Briony helped her mother to her feet.


    Just then, Mack''s bloodshot, murderous gaze swept over to them. For a moment,


    he looked exactly like Malcolm had, long ago.


    A sh of memory seared through


    Julia''s mind-Malcolm hitting She screamed, clutching her. sobbing, "No, please, don''t hit me-"


    Briony''s


    her meart ached. She wrapped


    Other in a hug and whispered


    soothingly, "It''s all over, Mom. It''s all over. Let''s go home." Conter


    Mack watched as Briony shielded Julia and led her out of the courtroom.


    His face was dark as a storm.


    And in that moment, no one could tell what he was thinking.