As Tina attempted to get away with her crimes by iming she was mentally ill, a new piece of evidence arrived from Halewick The doctor, bribed by the Sowlest take her condition, had confessed to the police.


    One piece of evidence after another proved Tins was the culprit. There was nothing else she could say.


    Austin couldn''t do anything about it, either


    In two separate rooms at the police station, two groups of people came out. Dominic and Austin met face to face.


    Dominic walked toward him and greeted him.


    Mr. Sole, I hope you''re alright. I understand it''s hard being the older brother," Dominic sald sympathetically. "But you won''t have to anymore. You won''t neet to clean up her messes after this. Just pay her a visit every now and then on special asions."


    Austin''s face tumed pale


    "My condolences." Dominic patted his shoulder like they were old friends, then left with Vespera and the others.


    At noon, Dominic and Vespera walked out of the police station with the group.


    Brianna finally got the justice she had waited so long for and was bawling her eyes out. They were tears of sorrow and relief.


    Antonio invited them all to their farmhouse for a meal before they left Ashford. It was hard to refuse since everyone genuinely telt overjoyed.


    As they got into the car and drove off, a white car passed by slowly.


    Vespera humed and saw its window was half down. In it sat a woman with incredible beauty-so well-maintained, it was impossible to guess her age.


    The woman nced at them, but behind her gentle gaze was a sh of something menacing.


    Dominic scoffed. "The Sowles ended up going to her for help. This is no better than inviting the demon into your house."


    He leaned in and looked out the same window Vespera was staring through, sounding as if he was mouming the Sowles,


    Vesperre picked up on the implication and asked, "So she''s the one helping the Sowles?"


    Dominic tumed her face back toward him and rubbed her cheek. "Never mind who they asked. They''re all nothing but clowns. No need to fret," he said, reassuring her.


    She felt relieved bearing that


    Only after the car had driven for a while did she realize he was still leaning against her, caressing her face the whole time. Surprised by her ownck of awareness, she pulled his hand away and tumeda


    d away from him.


    Dominic sat back as if he hadn''t done anything at all.


    The group headed to the farmhouse for the meal. While


    they were


    were eating, Brianna told them she would be taking Jade in and that they''d live together.


    The announcement surprised everyone, but no one said anything. They just smiled and nodded.


    It was Brianna''s choice to forgive or resent Jade. What others thought didn''t matter, and no one had the right to interfere.


    Hadway through the meal, Jade arrived. She wasn''t wearing a hat or a mask, and the scar on her face was fully exposed under the daylight. Yet, it didn''t seem as terrifying as it once had


    Brianna went out to greet her. They stood in front of the flowerbed, neither speaking at first


    Eventually, Jade called out softly. "Mrs. Cruz...”


    Brianne stepped forward and embraced her. In that moment, two hearts twisted


    by years of tomment and darkness seemed to find peace, as if they''d finally discovered a reason to keep going


    By 2:00 pm, the group began leaving the farmhouse. They returned to the hotel to retrieve their luggage and headed back to Halewick


    Vespera quickly got into a different car before someone stopped her. Riding in the same vehicle as Dominic felt too dangerous


    On the way back, she slept like a log. It might''ve been the weight on her chest finally lifting, putting her intoplete rxation.


    As soon as she got in the rar, she pulled Reba close and used her as a pillow, sleepingfortably in her arms.


    Reba didn''tve the heart to resist her. During the trip, Byron asked if her arms were tired. She simply gestured to the car behind them, as if to say there was someone back there who was dying to switch ces


    They stopped at a service arauer during the drive. When they finally exited the highway into Halewick, it was already dusk


    Vespera stined from a beavy, disorienting sleep and blindly reached out to pat Reba, but something felt off.


    "Hip? ha, why is your chest fat? Where did your boobs go?"