Chapter 8 - Justice in the Cold
Gwen realized she had been caught in a trap. Her eyes darted toward the door, but Liam stepped in her path, his tall frame blocking the exit.
"Get out of my way, Liam," Gwen hissed, her voice dropping all pretense of sisterly affection. "You owe everything to me! I protected you after Dad died! I built this life for us!"
"You built a life on lies, extortion, and murder," Liam said, his heart breaking for the sister he thought he knew, but his resolve remaining unshakable. "It's over, Gwen."
Gwen lunged forward, trying to push past him, but the front door suddenly burst open. Two federal agents, accompanied by local police officers and Marcus, entered the apartment with their badges drawn.
"Gwen Vance, you are under arrest for federal financial extortion, wire fraud, and the ongoing investigation into the homicide of Leo Vance," the lead agent announced.
Gwen fought against the handcuffs, screaming profanities at Liam and Nora, her face distorted with rage. "You're nothing without me, Liam! You hear me?! Nothing! She'll leave you anyway! You locked her out in the cold!"
As the police dragged Gwen out of the apartment, her screams faded down the hallway, replaced by the heavy silence of the room.
Liam turned to Nora, the weight of the past few days crashing down on him. He felt entirely exposed, riddled with guilt for his role in Gwen's final cruel act against his wife. He looked down at the floor, unable to meet Nora's eyes.
"She was right about one thing," Liam whispered, a tear escaping his eye. "I did lock you out in the cold. I failed you when you needed me to trust you the most. I don't expect you to forgive me, Nora. I don't deserve it."
Nora walked over to him. She didn't speak immediately. Instead, she reached out and gently lifted his chin so he had to look at her.
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"You made a terrible mistake, Liam," she said softly, her voice trembling but filled with an undeniable warmth. "You let a lifetime of manipulation cloud your judgment. But you came for me. You fought for the truth, and you helped me clear my brother's name. That is the man I married. The man who protects the truth."
She pulled her wedding ring from her pocket—the ring she had left on the wet coat—and placed it in his palm. "Put it back on my finger, Liam. Let's start over."
