As soon as Ada walked out of the police station, she was hit by noise and flashing lights.
Reporters rushed up to her.
Cameras clicked. Microphones and phones pointed at her from every side.
"Miss Ada! Over here!" "Are you still Jude Lawson's lawyer?" "Did he confess?" "Did he kill the woman?" "Are you still going to get married?"
Ada stopped for a moment. There were more reporters than she expected. All their voices and bright lights made her feel dizzy.
But Ada took a deep breath. She stood up straight and put on her "lawyer face." She looked serious, not angry, just in control.
"I want to make this clear," Ada said, her voice steady. "I am not Jude Lawson's lawyer. I am not representing him in court."
Everyone started talking at once.
"Why not?" "Is it because he cheated?" "Are you ending the relationship?"
Ada felt her heart hurt, but she didn't show it. She spoke slowly.
"Our relationship is over."
The crowd gasped and muttered.
"Did he betray you?" "Do you think he is guilty?" "Will you speak against him in court?"
Ada looked nervous for a second, but she held her head high.
"I believe in the law," she said. "The truth will come out in court."
A reporter shouted, "Do you think he killed her?"
Ada's face changed just a little. Pain showed in her eyes, but she quickly hid it.
"I will not answer that," she said.
"But you were with him"
"I said, I will not answer."
Her voice was sharper now.
Someone else shouted, "Did he cheat on you before the wedding?"
Ada's face fell. She tried not to cry.
"I have nothing more to say," she said.
"Miss Ada!"
"No more questions," Ada said firmly.
But the reporters kept pushing, kept shouting, kept taking pictures.
Ada finally lost her patience.
"I said I'm done!" she shouted.
Everyone fell quiet for a second.
Ada pushed through the crowd. Cameras flashed and voices called her name, but she didn't stop until she reached her car. She got in and closed the door. Inside, it was silent. She grabbed the steering wheel and began to cry.
Inside the jail cell, Jude sat alone. He kept thinking about Ada. He thought about their last talk, about her tears and the ring she left behind. He closed his eyes. He felt empty. Everything was gone, his wedding, his relationship, his whole life.
A guard came to his cell.
"You have five minutes," the guard said.
Jude looked up. "For what?"
"Phone call."
Jude stood up quickly. "I need to call someone."
A few minutes later, Jude held the phone. He dialed Daniel.
It rang once.
"Jude?" Daniel answered.
Relief filled Jude's chest. "Daniel."
"You're alive," Daniel said. "I was trying to reach you."
"I need your help," Jude said.
"I'm listening."
"There's a lawyer," Jude said. "She came to see me. She wants to help."
"What's her name?" Daniel asked.
"Margret. I don't know her last name, but she thinks something is wrong with my case."
Daniel was quiet for a moment. "Okay. I'll find her."
"Please," Jude said. "I have no one else."
"I'll help you," Daniel replied.
Jude hung up. For the first time since his arrest, he felt a small bit of hope.
Daniel worked for hours. He made calls, asked for help, and finally, he found Margret.
Margret was at a small office when Daniel called her.
"Is this Margret?" Daniel asked.
"Yes. Who is this?"
"My name is Daniel. I'm Jude's friend. He wants to see you."
Margret was surprised. "He changed his mind?"
"He has no choice," Daniel said.
Margret said, "Tell him I'll come."
When Margret went back to the police station, the officers knew her.
"Back again?" one asked.
"Yes," Margret said. "This time, he's expecting me."
They took her to a small room. Jude was already there, waiting. When he saw her, he looked less angry and more careful.
"You came," he said.
"You called," she replied.
They sat across from each other.
Jude asked, "Why do you want to help me?"
Margret tilted her head. "Don't you remember me?"
Jude frowned. "No. What do you mean?"
Margret looked at him for a moment. "Nothing. You will."
Jude shook his head. "Tell me now."
"Focus on your case," Margret said.
Jude looked frustrated. "Fine."
Margret folded her arms. "Start from the beginning. Tell me everything."
Jude took a deep breath and told her the whole story. The club. The drinks. The girl. The confusion. Waking up and seeing blood. Calling Daniel. The escape. Everything.
Margret listened carefully, watching Jude all the time.
She asked, "Why did you go with another girl the night before your wedding?"
Jude looked away. "I don't know. It was stupid."
"Stupid or on purpose?" Margret asked.
Jude looked at her. "What are you saying?"
"I'm asking," Margret replied.
Jude's voice got hard. "Don't make it personal."
Margret didn't back down. "Is there something I should know?"
She waited, then leaned back. "Forget it. We'll talk about it later."
"Just do your job," Jude said.
Margret didn't argue. She took out a magazine and put it on the table.
"Read this."
Jude read the headlines:
INVESTORS PULL OUT OF LAWSON HOLDINGS
MULTI-MILLION DEALS SUSPENDED
GLOBAL PARTNERS RECONSIDER TIES
Jude's chest hurt. "They're leaving already?"
Margret nodded. "You're not just a suspect. You're a risk. You inherited a big business, and now it's falling apart."
Jude put his head in his hands. "So what do you want from me?"
Margret leaned forward. "I need you to be honest. Tell me everything. Even your mistakes."
Jude nodded. "And in return?"
"I'll get you out," Margret said.
Silence.
A knock came at the door.
"Time's up," the officer said.
Margret stood.
Jude looked at her. "Do you really think you can help me?"
Margret said, "Yes."
She left the room.
The club was quiet during the day. Margret walked in and asked to see the manager.
"I need CCTV footage from that night," she said.
The manager hesitated, but Margret showed her lawyer card. That changed his mind. He took her to the back, where a technician brought up the recordings.
They watched for a long time.
Then the technician said, "There's no footage for that time."
Margret frowned. "Why not?"
"The system stopped recording," he said.
"When?"
"Right at the time you're asking for."
Margret was suspicious. "Who was in charge that night?"
The manager answered, but when Margret asked where the person was, he said, "He doesn't work here anymore."
"When did he leave?"
"The next day."
Margret's eyes narrowed. "What's his address?"
Margret went to the address. An old woman opened the door.
"I'm looking for your son," Margret said.
"He moved last week," the woman said.
Margret asked, "The day after the trouble at the club?"
The woman nodded. "He left in a hurry."
Margret thanked her and left.
That evening, Margret returned to see Jude.
He looked up. "You're back already."
Margret sat down. "I found something. The club's CCTV stopped working at the exact time you needed it. And the man in charge disappeared the next day."
Jude's heartbeat fast. "So, what does that mean?"
"It means someone planned this," Margret said.
Jude swallowed. "I told you."
Margret nodded. "Who would want to destroy you?"
Jude shook his head. "I don't know."
For the first time, his voice was scared.
"It feels like I'll never get out of this," Jude whispered.
Margret looked at him.
"No," she said calmly. "You will."
And for the first time, Jude started to believe her.