Chapter 27 Beckley stepped closer now , his eyes dark , voice low and shaking with fury . " You disgust me . You talk about love , but all I see is poison . You were never content , never honest . You used me , used Bennett , used everything around you like tools . " She sobbed harder , her voice breaking . " No , Beck , I swear , I swear on our son , everything I did - I did it for you . Because I can't breathe without you . Please , baby . Please . Don't let them throw me away ." I spoke before he could . My voice cut through her begging . " You're not scared of losing Beckley . You're scared of losing control . That's what you really love , Fresca . Power . Manipulation . You never knew love . " Her eyes snapped to me , filled with pure hate . " Shut up ! Shut your filthy mouth ! " She banged her fists against the glass until her knuckles bled . " He's mine ! He'll always be mine ! " Beckley's voice was colder than I'd ever heard it . " No , Fresca . I'm done . You're nothing to me now ." She screamed , raw and wild , her body thrashing . " No , Beck ! You can't ! You can't walk away from me ! " I stood there , my body trembling but my head clear . For once , I wasn't the one broken . She was . And Beckley finally saw it too . The courtroom was packed . Cameras everywhere , reporters scribbling like their pens might catch fire . All eyes on her . Fresca . She sat there in chains , trying to play sweet and soft , but her smirk kept slipping , her eyes wild like a cornered animal . Then they dragged Judas in . God , he looked wrecked . Pale , thinner than before , but when he sat on that stand , his voice didn't even shake . " I did everything because she told me to , " he said , pointing right at Fresca . " She ordered me to set fire to Helena's mansion . She bribed the guards . She bought the gas . She gave every order . Even told me to ram Beckley's car and finish him . " People gasped . Reporters scribbled louder . Judas went on , voice hard . " Bennett isn't Beckley's son . He's mine . Fresca told me to keep quiet , to let Beckley think the boy was his . I loved her , I did all her dirty work because of that . But she never loved me back . She only used me . " The whole room buzzed , jury whispering , cameras flashing . His Choice Was Her 1/2 01.0 9:16 Thu , Oct 16 " 95 Fresca snapped . She screamed across the courtroom , her voice ripping the air . " Liar ! Liar ! Judas , don't you dare ! I loved you too ! Don't betray me now , you coward ! " The judge slammed the gavel , voice sharp . " Order ! " It didn't matter . The jury came back . Guilty . Attempted murder , arson , conspiracy . Decades behind bars , no chance of parole . The guards tried to pull her up but she fought like a wildcat , thrashing , hair flying everywhere . Her screams clawed at the walls . " You can't do this to me ! I'm Beckley's wife ! Do you hear me ? His wife ! " Her eyes cut into me like knives . " Claire , you witch , you ruined everything ! I'll kill you ! I swear I'll kill you ! " I didn't move . My hands trembled in my lap , but my heart stayed steady . She was finished . Then her voice cracked , desperate , breaking down as they dragged her toward the door . " Beckley ! Beckley , save me ! Don't let them take me ! You love me , don't you ? You still love me ! " I turned my head and saw Beckley sitting in the gallery . His face was stone , unreadable , but he didn't move . He didn't even blink . The guards kept pulling her , her screams echoing down the hall . " Bennett ! My baby ! Don't take my baby ! Please ! Please , I'll be good ! I'll be good ! Don't take him from me ! " The judge's voice was cold when he ruled . " The child will be placed under state custody . No relatives have come forward . He will be sent to an orphanage . " Her wails turned into something primal . " No ! Not my baby ! Don't take my son ! " Her body bucked so hard the guards had to drag her half - lifted . And then she was gone , her sobs still bouncing against the walls even after the doors slammed shut . I sat there frozen , breath caught in my throat . My heart ached for Bennett , for the innocent boy caught in her madness . But for Fresca ... all I felt was cold . She had finally burned herself to ash . After the court , I asked Beckley if we could talk . We ended up in a small café , just the two of us . My hands wouldn't stop shaking under the table while I waited . He walked in looking tired , his suit a little undone , but his eyes softer than I'd seen in years . " Claire ... " he said as soon as he sat down . " I'm sorry . For everything . For all the pain I put you through . " My chest squeezed tight , but I forced myself to smile gently . " I forgive you , Beck . And Chante : 07 213 95.2 % 9:16 Thu , Oct 16 95 thank you ... you saved me that night . If you hadn't stopped her , Fresca would have finished me . " His eyes glossed over , like he was holding back something heavy . " Because I still love you . I already died once when I thought you were gone . I couldn't let it happen again . " I dropped my gaze to the coffee , my heart beating fast but not for him anymore . " Beck ... I don't feel the same . My heart ... it belongs to someone else now ." His lips trembled but he gave me a broken smile . " It's Kendrick , isn't it ? " I nodded slowly . He leaned back , looking like the weight of the world had crushed him , but he stayed calm . " Then I hope he gives you the love I couldn't . If friendship is all I can have with you , I'll take it . " We said goodbye quietly , no anger , no bitterness . When I walked outside , I froze . Across the street , Kendrick stood leaning against his car. His face was bruised , eyes shadowed . He didn't move , didn't call out . Just watched me for a moment before turning away and walking off . My heart raced . It was him . It had always been him . That night I couldn't fight it anymore . I went to his mansion . The guards didn't stop me -they just opened the gates like they knew . I followed the sound of glass clinking into the dim living room . Kendrick sat there , half - drunk , shirt hanging open , a bottle at his side . He didn't look up right away , only muttered , voice low and raw , " Why are you here , Claire ? Didn't you already choose him ? " 9:16 Thu , Oct 16 95 Chapter 28