Chapter 348

The day of the hearing arrived with alarming speed as though time had compressed itself, rushing Emmeline toward the confrontation she both dreaded and needed.

She stood in front of her bedroom mirror, adjusting the beige suit she had chosen carefully for the occasion. The jacket fit perfectly across her shoulders, the short skirt professional without being severe and the crisp white shirt underneath added a touch of simplicity.

Emmeline tied her hair back into a neat ponytail. Though her reflection looked composed, her heart raced beneath like a frightened bird seeking escape.

She applied a light touch of makeup, not to enhance her features but to mask the evidence of sleepless nights and worried days.

“You can do this,” she whispered to her reflection, drawing strength from the woman staring back at her. “You’ve survived worse.”

Emile waited in the living room when Emmeline emerged from her room. Eleanor and her father were conspicuously absent, havin