The room felt ready to explode. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

One wrong word and everything would shatter.

If this weren’t real life, I might’ve laughed. It had that same tense feeling as a drama reaching its peak, everyone holding their breath, waiting for the fall. Part of me even thought if Riley from before could see this, she’d finally feel some peace. Justice didn’t always come quietly. Sometimes it was loud and ugly.

Voices climbed higher. Hands clenched. Someone was seconds away from throwing the first punch.

Then Jeffrey’s voice cut through the chaos like thunder.

"Enough."

The room froze.

"Have you all lost your minds?" he roared. "You’re not children fighting in a playground. You’re grown adults, yet you’re yelling like vendors arguing over spilled grain. Is this how you carry yourselves?"

No one dared speak.

The silence was heavy, uncomfortable.

That was when James finally arrived. He looked awkward standing there, like someone who showed up late to a feast after all the dishes were gone. He’d been pretending to be unwell earlier, but judging by his expression now, he was more upset about missing the drama than anything else.

Jeffrey’s presence forced the tension down, but it didn’t erase it. The anger stayed, simmering under the surface.

Grant broke the quiet, his voice sharp and bitter.

"Fine. Let’s stop talking. If it turns out your daughter planned this and took part willingly, you’ll strip and run around this estate three times, shouting that you’re an idiot."

Malcom’s face turned red. He didn’t hesitate.

"Deal. But if it’s your daughter behind this mess, you’ll do the same."

So much for dignity.

What started as something meant to destroy me had turned into a full-scale clash between families. Pride took over. When men clash over honor, reason never survives.

Some guests tried to calm things down. Nolan spoke. A few others followed. It didn’t matter. No one was listening.

Most people weren’t even interested in the truth anymore. They just wanted entertainment. Whispers filled the room, eyes shining with anticipation.

James stayed silent, watching carefully. For once, his own son wasn’t at the center of the storm.

That thought made me pause.

Where was Julian?

James glanced around too. Julian had been distant lately. Maybe he’d withdrawn somewhere quiet, avoiding the noise. James didn’t press. He likely assumed Julian wanted no part of this.

Then Lewis stepped forward.

The shift was instant.

He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to.

"That’s enough," he said calmly. "It’s time the truth comes out."

I blinked.

Truth?

What had he been doing all this time?

Lewis gave Theo a short nod.

Theo stepped forward, holding a small device. "We’ll start here."

The room fell silent as the recording played.

Then Camilla’s voice filled the space.

Clear. Cold. Cruel.

"What? You’re really going to let Riley stay with that useless man? What a waste. Take her. She won’t resist. Drug her if you have to. Once she’s under, she’ll obey. Record it. After that, she’ll never dare fight back."

Gasps erupted.

My body went cold.

I had known Camilla was dangerous. I had sensed it. But hearing it laid bare like this so calculated, so vicious made my stomach twist.

I turned slowly toward Lewis.

So this was why he’d been watching her so closely.

Memories surfaced all at once. Even after my first death, he hadn’t stopped asking questions. He hadn’t let things rest. He challenged Julian. He distrusted Camilla long before anyone else did.

Even when I was gone, he kept digging.

The room was completely still. No one spoke. No one moved. The weight of the evidence crushed the air.

Vivian went pale.

Malcom stood stiff, like the ground had dropped beneath his feet.

The Morrigan family looked shaken, their perfect image cracking right in front of everyone. For years, they had praised Camilla as gentle, well-mannered, flawless. Now that mask was gone, and what showed beneath it was ugly.

Grant finally snapped.

"This is the daughter you’ve been bragging about?" he demanded, his voice sharp. "You kept saying how pure and kind she was. My daughter never wronged her, yet she planned to drug her? That’s not jealousy. That’s cruelty."

For a moment, the Morrigans said nothing. But pride doesn’t disappear easily.

Vivian lifted her chin, forcing strength into her voice. "This is just a recording. Anyone can fake audio. It proves nothing."

Lewis didn’t even raise his voice.

"Denying it now won’t save you. It will only make things worse."

Theo stepped forward again. This time, the screen lit up.

Video footage.

Camilla appeared on the screen, leaning close to Yenik, slipping something into his hand. Her voice was low but clear.

"This works fast," she whispered. "One sip and she’ll burn from the inside. She’ll come to you on her own."

Yenik sounded nervous. "What if she drinks too much?"

Camilla laughed softly. "Then she won’t even remember herself. You can do whatever you want."

The room went dead silent.

Everything clicked into place. Her behavior earlier. The way she clung to Yenik. The way she lost control.

The trap she set for me had snapped shut on her instead.

Fitting.

Then a sharp sound cut through the silence.

A slap.

My mother stood there, her hand still raised, her breath shaking. Lena who had always been calm, always polite looked like fire wrapped in silk.

"This is the child you raised?" she demanded, her voice trembling with rage. "What did my daughter ever do to deserve this? Why would your Camilla try to destroy her?"

Never underestimate a mother.

Vivian clutched her cheek, stunned into silence.

I walked up and hugged my mom from behind, pressing my forehead to her shoulder.

"Mom, it’s okay. I’m alright now."

She turned, tears spilling freely. "Why does your life have to be this hard? If I had protected you better..."

Her pain reached Grant. The anger drained from him when he saw her crying. He pulled her into his arms, lowering his voice.

"It’s over now. She’s safe."

But Lena wasn’t ready to forgive.

She pushed against his chest. "You’re not innocent either. You married her too early. She was still young, and you threw her into a storm!"

Grant didn’t argue. He knew she was right. He led her out quietly, shielding her from the stares.

Back inside, Theo played the final clip.

The screen showed Yenik pouring something into a wine glass and handing it to me. It showed me lifting it, taking a sip.

Vivian pointed at the screen, desperate. "Then why didn’t it work? That drink should have taken effect!"

I met her gaze without flinching.

"Because I knew," I said calmly. "From the moment I stepped out that night, I could sense the trap. I played along. I never swallowed it."

I turned and took Lewis’s hand, holding it tight.

"I may have entered this marriage under strange circumstances, but I’m not foolish. I would never betray the one I stand beside. As for Camilla she’s reckless, unstable, and willing to destroy anyone who gets in her way."

Silence followed.

Then someone finally voiced the question hanging in the air.

"If Riley didn’t take it... then who did?"

The answer was already written on every face.