The Million-Dollar Heart

"Good question."

Leopold hadn't gone into the courthouse, sitting instead in the parking lot outside, watching the live stream with the diligently working Thomas.

Each had a cup of iced tea in hand, with a bag of chips between them, enjoying the small comforts of life. "The online crowd sure knows what to focus on."

Thomas, holding onto his snack with a somewhat disdainful expression, remarked, "Kipling and Zinnia caught on pretty quick. I thought this whole mess would be over by now."

His gaze then settled on Cassidy, sitting a few rows ahead.

The girl seemed more alive than when he last saw her, probably because she knew that after today, she would be free.

She was holding a tablet, Kipling's voice filtering through her earbuds, her expression a mix of excitement and impatience. "When can I finally go in? Why does Ms. Hawthorn even bother with those scumbags?!"

They had never seen someone so eager to take down their own mother.

Leopold and Thomas exchanged glances, understanding Cassidy's stance.

If it were them, they'd probably have gone all out against Zinnia a long time ago. Cassidy had finally found a way to break free, naturally, she was desperate.

Leopold grabbed an unopened bag of chips from the side, handing it over. "Don't worry. It should be your turn soon. Have some snacks to keep your strength up; you'll need it." Raquel, tied up nearby, shuffled and whimpered.

the bag of chips in Leopold's hand,

pack of dry crackers, then ripped off the tape covering Raquel's mouth.

dry, choking hazard of a cracker, complained, "Why does she get chips and soda,

You should be grateful you're even getting this. Knowing Vivienne, it's lenient of her not to have sent you to keep the dogs

the ancient warrior lineage matter, unlike her usual decisive

at

smiling, but his eyes showed no emotion. "Alright then, I'll get someone to send over a feast for you later. But whether you'll be alive to enjoy it, well, that's not

dare you treat me like this? Aren't you afraid I'll say something I shouldn't on the stand, something that could

his untouched iced tea to Cassidy. "Raquel, did you forget what's still

"..."

those words, Raquel suddenly

hadn't forgotten about the poison Vivienne had administered, causing unbearable pain before it even

finally accepted the dry crackers, no longer daring to speak out. Who knew what these people, as mad as

and finally shut up,

At that moment.

witness stand, Kipling, with his neck stiff, said something that

in her chair, swept her clear eyes over Kipling and then towards the judge. "You certainly didn't have the capability back then. But those who paid you, well,

quite curious, though. Why would so many influential people give money to

Kipling turned pale.

swept over the camera, and he swallowed. "I didn't, those, those were just rumors online. I didn't take any bribes, it wasn't me,

changing the

what had

to be implicated in a loss, stood up again. "What we're discussing here is Julian's misconduct. What does that have to do with whether Kipling took bribes or

scoffed mockingly. "You're not trying to say that Kipling was bribed to slander Julian, are you? Please, look at that old fool. What's there to scheme against

shuddered, feeling a chill