A Yearning Beyond Years

ey's

n so I can just hop inside a

The sound of Noah's voice st

Stacey last night...

heart wasn't beating. At le

own body, as if the real me had run screaming from

ing

got that video or even

your body, or worse, this was just a whole plan

the pit of my stomach as

ked calm.

he words. Whatever it was, she didn't respond. She just sat there, arms fol

e had to be, and Noah

its color. Not fear. Chloe didn't get as easily frightened as me

tegizing fast in her head as she mouthed the words, "

face, reassuring her that it was okay. I got myself

his chaos tha

o

is forehead. But his eyes locked on mi

is voice echoing thr

udge asked as everyone was now s

at new nightmare he might release, and, more

sorry I didn't mean for

ng about?" I whispe

rded that video, yes. But I lied in it. Agat

room gasped at t

owed. "You have proof

from his pocket, trembling fingers navigating t

e heard he

ip to the board, I'll leak messages, and I'll make sure they throw her out and ba

out. Chloe grabbed

ping. I thought if I said what she wanted, it'd end quickly and you'd

ood up, adjus

was forged and forced on, and the evide

speechless and almos

able of taking care of her daughter reg

ter before the judge f

s the final verdict. The court is adjourned," and

in slow motion. Every m

eryone returned to their seats, buzzing with speculation. Th

break, and I hope your evidence is now carefull

discovered evidence that directly rebuts the earlier video tes

sed an eyebro

ook th

, but when he started speak

a Whitmore." He nodded toward her. "She told me if I didn't do it, she'd ruin Stacey's career. I th

didn't blink. But Liam... Liam finally looked unsure. His jaw clenche

submitted. He listened to the full a

ked at Agatha. "Miss Whitmor

er expressio

io could have been edited. And even

it usually carried. She was sli

as sc

this audio authenticated. But I've heard enough to

e. "Miss Smith

wildly. Chloe s

st

upport the claim that you were engaged in a

oward Liam

s court awards full legal and physical

d like church b

n't bel

as o

arties to resolve remaining matters amicably. Given the eve

was a

tood silent

whatever

yone. Even Agatha

w, the devil do

s life. I messed up. We both did. B

udge

read every word twice before handing it to me. I signed

ike that,

stepped out of the court towards t

giving me a nudge, to which

aid, appro

d sex with who nearly ruined your life but som

he rep

that. I didn't t

was a brief silence between us that w

and celebrate. I kno

words fell out of my mouth

say that, yo

o. I'll take my car a

arted something. Are

yeah,