Chapter 1150:


    Though he preferred to keep the matter private, Pattie was an exception, an opportunity to share everything now presenting itself.


    Rnd’s gaze shifted to his briefcase, his movements deliberate as he opened it and withdrew a folder.


    He ced it on the table, carefully opening it to reveal documents neatly categorized withbels: Testimonies, Materials, Timeline, and Evidence.


    The first page held a photograph, dated two decades ago, of a young Zoey, her beauty ethereal, like an angel descended to earth.


    Maia’s heart stirred, wondering what life Zoey might have led had she not been imprisoned, left instead to wither in a cell’s cold confines.


    Rnd turned the page, revealing an old newspaper, its edges yellowed with time. “My reason foring to Wront is to fulfill my mentor’sst wish,” he said, his voice steady but heavy. “He was the defensewyer for Miss Zoey Cooper.”


    For nearly an hour, the quiet of the living room was broken only by the shuffle of papers and the scratch of pen against paper. On the coffee table, documentsy scattered in neat disarray, bathed in the golden light of themp.


    Rnd went over the past in detail, speaking as though he were reliving a trial that had been dered over yet never truly resolved.


    With her brows drawn tight, Pattie listened carefully. When Rnd’s words finally trailed off, she said, “This is obviously coercion. Who in their right mind would take back their testimony and admit to murder in court?”


    Her words slipped out like venom, each syble cold and sharp. “Whichever angle you examine, Kolton Cooper came out on top. That makes him the prime suspect.”


    Rnd gave a slow nod. “Exactly. In families like his, power games are always yed behind closed doors. History is full of such stories, where greed drives people to ruthless extremes. That’s why Neville once believed Zoey’s case would be easy to win.”


    Turning a page, he pressed a finger against the timeline drawn across it. “Look here. There was never any proof tying Zoey to the crime scene. In fact, Kyle was summoned there by Kolton himself.”


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    He lifted his gaze toward Maia before speaking again. “In the end, Zoey stood in that courtroom, withdrew everything she had testified to before, andid out a detailed murder plot in her own words. The judge epted every bit of it.”


    From the folder, Rnd slid another sheet free and passed it to her. “This was her statement at the time. I’ve gone through it more times than I can count. Honestly, it reads like the perfect crime.”


    With careful fingers, Maia unfolded the paper and began to read. The words carried a sharpness that cut like steel.


    By the time she reached the middle, a shiver trailed down her arms, leaving her skin prickled with chills.


    “Such wless reasoning.”


    Her eyes rose to meet his, her tone quiet but heavy. “Not a single crack. If I had been the one judging, I probably would have believed it too.”


    Rnd’s head inclined in agreement. “She even ounted for the missing fingerprints on the weapon, weaving every stray clue into a seamless chain. The story she told was nearly impossible to doubt.”


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    Message from Noah: Sorry for the dy, dear ones. I wanted to bring as many chapters as I could—there were 18 novels, so it was a lot to go through. Still, I hope you enjoyed the chapters. God loves you, and Noah wishes you all the best. (?O?=)? ?


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