The official letter arrived three days later.

Cream-colored envelope. Government seal. Her full name typed with unforgiving precision.

She opened it slowly, already bracing herself.

Summons to testify.

Edward Smith.

Money laundering. Human trafficking. Corruption.

Her fingers trembled as she read the details. Date. Time. Courtroom number.

She hadn’t spoken Edward’s name out loud in years—not without bitterness curling around it. He had been a shadow in her life long before he became a headline. A presence that always felt too large, too calculated. A man who smiled like he owned the room—and everyone in it.

Laura sat down hard on the edge of her bed.

So this was it....