Chapter 12: The Trial Before the Trial
By the next morning, my name was everywhere.
Not because I wanted attention.
Not because I told my story.
Because Garrett told it for me.
The man who humiliated my mother became the injured husband.
The woman who defended herself became the attacker.
It was almost unbelievable.
Almost.
But I had learned something about Garrett.
He didn’t need people to believe the truth.
He only needed them to believe his version first.
Claire spent the morning preparing.
“We need to expect him to attack your character.””
I nodded.
“He already is.””
“No.””
She looked at me seriously.
“This will be worse.””
She was right.
By noon, another article appeared.
This time about my past.
About my father.
About the company.
And about the mysterious man in the photograph.
Garrett had released it.
The headline suggested I had hidden secrets before our marriage.
Lies built on half-truths.
Exactly the way he operated.
My phone rang constantly.
I ignored most calls.
Until one came from a number I recognized.
My father’s old business partner.
I answered.
“Mr. Lawson?””
His voice was tired.
“Alessia.””
My heart tightened.
“I saw the news.””
“I’m sorry.””
“No.””
He interrupted.
“You need to hear something.””
“What?””
“Your father left something behind.””
I stood.
“What?””
“A recording.””
I froze.
“A recording of what?””
“Of Garrett.””
The room went silent.
“When can I get it?””
“Tonight.””
I looked at Claire.
She immediately understood.
“Where?””
Mr. Lawson gave us an address.
Before we left, my mother stopped me.
“Alessia.””
I turned.
She looked terrified.
“What if this makes everything worse?””
I walked back to her.
“For eight years, he controlled what we knew.””
I held her hand.
“I’m done being afraid of what happens when the truth comes out.””
She hugged me.
And for the first time in days, I let myself cry.
Not because I was broken.
Because I was tired.
Tired of fighting someone who should have loved me.
That night, we met Mr. Lawson in an old office building.
He handed me a small recording device.
“Your father trusted me with this.””
My hands shook.
“Why didn’t you give it to me before?””
“Because I didn’t know who to trust.””
I understood.
Everyone who challenged Garrett had learned the same lesson.
Trust could be dangerous.
We played the recording.
Static.
Then a voice.
Garrett.
Younger.
But unmistakable.
“I need the company transferred before she knows.””
My blood froze.
Another voice.
My father.
“You’re talking about my daughter.””
Garrett laughed.
“She’ll believe whatever I tell her.””
I covered my mouth.
The recording continued.
“You don’t understand, Garrett. She’s not a tool.””
A pause.
Then Garrett spoke again.
“She will be.””
The recording ended.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Because those two words revealed everything.
Not just what he did.
How he saw me.
Not as a wife.
Not as a person.
A tool.
Claire finally whispered:
“We have him.””
I looked at the device.
For the first time, I wasn’t wondering if I could defeat Garrett.
I knew I could.
But then my phone rang.
Garrett.
I answered.
“What?””
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
“You found the recording.””
I froze.
“How did you know?””
A quiet laugh.
“You still don’t understand, Alessia.””
My grip tightened.
“What?””
“You think you’re uncovering my secrets.””
A pause.
“But you’re walking directly into mine.””
The call ended.
And Claire looked at me.
“What did he mean?””
I stared at the phone.
Because deep down, I knew.
Garrett wasn’t afraid.
He had never been afraid.
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Which meant there was one more secret.
One he believed was powerful enough to destroy everything.
