Chapter 3 – The Price of Betrayal
The investigation uncovered secrets no one expected.
Twenty-two years earlier...
Margaret's youngest daughter had fallen in love with an ordinary teacher.
The Ashford family refused to accept him.
Before the couple could return home with their newborn daughter...
Their car mysteriously crashed.
Everyone believed both parents had died.
But they hadn't.
The baby survived.
Someone secretly paid to make her disappear.
That someone...
Was Cassandra's father.
He had planned everything.
If Emily disappeared...
His own daughter would someday marry Nathan...
And inherit the Ashford fortune.
The conspiracy had lasted decades.
Until one security camera...
Destroyed it all.
The police arrested Cassandra's father.
Cassandra herself faced multiple criminal charges.
Attempted assault.
Fraud.
Conspiracy.
Witness intimidation.
Outside the courthouse...
Reporters surrounded her.
"Do you regret what you've done?"
She looked into the cameras.
For the first time in her life...
No one believed her tears.
Inside the courtroom...
Nathan held Emily's hand.
"You deserved justice years ago."
Emily smiled softly.
"No."
May you like
She rested a hand on her stomach.
"We deserve peace."
