The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Zinnia gasped and turned to look at Leopold Sterling, who was smirking weirdly, "Who are you calling an old hag?!"

"Hey, isn't that Austin's mom over there? Why is your daughter sitting with the Littleton family's witnesses? Don't tell me she's the witness Vivienne Hawthorn mentioned."

Zinnia retorted, "Impossible! She's my daughter; why would she side with strangers?!"

Leopold chuckled disdainfully, "Oh, now you remember she's your daughter? What were you doing before?!"

"You!"

"Order!"

The judge frowned, banging the gavel for what seemed like the hundredth time that day.

Looking down at Cassidy, who stood confidently in the witness stand, the judge's frown deepened, "Witness, please present your testimony."

Cassidy glanced towards her mother Zinnia, who was staring at her in shock, and smiled slightly, "Your Honor, my name is Cassidy. I'm supposedly the girl Julian was accused of harassing."

"I can affirm, Julian has been the best teacher I've had since starting school. He did not harass me. The whole situation was a scam orchestrated by my mother Zinnia and Kipling Abernasy." The courtroom erupted in shock.

Zinnia screamed, "You little brat! What nonsense are you spouting?! Get down here, I've done so much for you, and this is how you repay me?!"

Kipling was equally unsettled, "Cassidy, have you lost your mind?! Do you realize what you're saying? Come down now!"

Cassidy's smile only grew wider.

off the masks from Zinnia and Kipling layer by layer, "Of course, I know what I'm saying, Your Honor. I am the

aside with her makeup perfectly done, flashed a cold

surprised that Vivienne had managed to bring Cassidy, the very person

suddenly spoke up, "Your Honor, I've heard Cassidy suffers

know depression isn't amnesia. People with depression

added, "Legally, there's no rule against people with depression testifying.

Honor, I demand a medical examination to check if

Don't make a scene here. How could I, as your

"What do you know?"

influential old men, or how to make me serve

depression, and lock me in a hospital? If it weren't for this attempt to

did all those things to me, you should have expected that one

Julian, Kipling's chances of finding another witness were

his decision, Kipling, driven by immense fear, broke through the police line and approached Cassidy, "You traitor! How much did they pay

"Get lost!"

quick to kick

hint of panic. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FindNøvᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of

what you did to me five years ago?!" "Your Honor, I wish

to Zinnia, she said each word clearly, "Zinnia was

eyes widened in

truth? How could there be a mother like Zinnia in this

snorted, "Kaitlyn, there's no shortage