«And now the bride will gift her business to the groom!» — the emcee announced at the mother-in-law’s request, but instead of the deed, I played the video and the mother-in-law had to flee through the back door…….

But the person – a stranger. You said they were criminals. That you’re on my side.

I was. Until you started acting like a suicide. I warned you.

You didn’t listen. And now everything’s out of control. You gave them my personal data.

I chose what to save. My life. My reputation.

Sorry, Anna, but you’re no longer in control of this process. Beeps. Anna stood in the middle of the street like a lost child.

Everything that seemed solid crumbled. Trust. Friendship.

Safety. This wasn’t just a blow. This was a fracture.

Deep. Irreversible. When she returned to her aunt, she said nothing.

Just went to the kitchen, sat at the table. A cup of tea was placed before her. She didn’t touch it.

«You’re no longer safe,» her aunt said quietly. This morning, two people came to the cafe. Asked about you.

Didn’t introduce themselves. Just looked around. I closed, said you left.

But they didn’t believe. Anna gripped the table edge. They started looking for her.

Not the police. Not friends. Someone who knew she was still dangerous.

That night, she didn’t sleep. Sat by the window, hugging her knees. Thoughts spun like rusty blades.

If Ashley switched sides, they have everything. Contacts. Flash drive.

Records. Everything she thought to fight back with. All betrayed.

And then she remembered one detail. That day when they found the notary who died, Ashley called first. Said she already had a connection, an insider.

Anna saw it all now. Ashley didn’t just betray. She led her there, where she could be beautifully broken. First support, to lead to a grand mistake.

Publication. Procedure violation. File distribution.

Everything looked like voluntary confession. Anna approached her bag. There lay an old business card.

Name – Paul Grant, lawyer, recommended to her once, but she didn’t call. «Too tough,» they said. «Works dirty.»

«But now it can’t be otherwise.» She dialed the number. Grant.

Listening. I need you to find a person. A woman.

Name – Ashley Malone. I need all the dirt. Connections, accounts, who she worked for.

And fast. Who are you? Anna Thompson. I’m in hell.

I need someone who can pull me out. Then wait tomorrow in the office. At ten.

When Anna hung up, her hands no longer trembled. She stood, slowly dressed, pulled out her passport. She wasn’t hiding anymore.

She was going into the center of the storm. In the morning, she was there. Grant’s office was in an old house with a cracked facade.

Inside – no cameras, no extra eyes. Grant met her in a gray suit, with a gaze that could disassemble piece by piece. «I’ve already gathered something,» he said, handing a folder.

Your «friend» officially received money from two affiliated companies linked to Ethan. Not directly, of course. Through dummies.

But the amounts are impressive. For consulting. Anna opened the folder.

There were checks, transfers, statements. All formalized as needed. But the essence couldn’t be hidden.

This was payment. For betrayal. Did she work for them from the start? Maybe not.

Maybe she agreed later. Or they found her. But the point is, now you have a map.

And you decide how to play it. Anna looked at the documents and felt something new rising inside with each word. Not revenge.

Not offense. Something clean, icy desire to finish what started. I want to get back my name.

And I want everyone to know who was behind this. Grant smiled with the corner of his mouth. Then prepare.

You’ll have to become worse than them. Or smarter. Anna looked into his eyes.

I already have. Just quieter. And more precise.

And in the evening, she got a new message. From an unknown number. You think you’re stronger now? Then prove it.

Court in three days. Come alone. Or your whole story will burn with you.

Three days. One hall. One choice.

And a ticket back to Seattle. She looked at her suitcase. And understood there was no way back.

The courtroom was warm, but Anna shivered. Not from cold, but from tension that had built up in her for weeks, like water before a dam break. On the bench opposite sat Ashley.

In an expensive dress, with flawless makeup. As if everything happening was just a business meeting. As if there was no betrayal, lies, ruined nights between them.

Ethan appeared later. In a strict suit, calm as always. He sat a bit to the side, next to a new lawyer.

Their gazes met. He nodded to Anna with some strange pity. Or irony.

She couldn’t tell. The hall was almost empty. Only the three of them, the judge, and the clerk.

Publicity of the hearing was canceled on motion. To not traumatize the participants’ reputations. Though reputation was already in the dust.

«We’ll begin,» the judge said. This is about challenging the gift deed for the business transferred from Anna Thompson to Ethan Malone on their wedding day. Grounds – pressure, misleading, and possible violations of the signing procedure.

Anna stood up. Her hands shook. But her voice held.

I didn’t transfer the business voluntarily. I didn’t know what I was signing. They deceived me.

Convinced me. In front of people. Under cameras…