Chapter 377

“Congratulations on winning, Emmeline,” Minnie exclaimed, hugging her tightly. “I knew you would.”

Emmeline sighed deeply. The tension of the past weeks finally beginning to unravel. “I’ve been so scared.” Her voice was muffled against Minnie’s shoulder. “For weeks I’ve imagined all the ways this could end. I waited so long for this moment and hoped with all my heart it would come.”

She gripped Minnie’s coat when frustration bubbled up through her relief. “But Margaret’s words hurt.” Her voice caught as she fought back tears that threatened to undermine her victory. “I never hurt anyone in Richard’s family. I was always a good wife and treated his mother with respect. Why are they trying to ruin my reputation and my life?”

Minnie patted her back soothingly. “Everyone knows what she said isn’t true,” she murmured. “And even if you could bribe the judge, you definitely couldn’t bribe the entire jury.”

A hand that wasn’t Minnie’s delicately stroked Emmeline’s ha