CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE – THE TASTE OF DEFEAT

Judge Reynolds pounded her gavel, her face a mask of stern resolve. "Order! Order in this court!" Slowly, the noise died down, and the judge fixed her gaze on the prosecution. "In light of this compelling evidence, I have no choice but to dismiss all charges against Charlotte Preston." A collective intake of breath filled the room, and then chaos erupted once more. Charlotte's hands flew to her mouth, tears streaming down her cheeks as Julian rushed to embrace her, his own eyes glistening with relief. The media frenzy outside the courthouse was deafening, cameras flashing and reporters shouting questions as Julian and Charlotte emerged, hand in hand. For a brief moment, the spotlight shifted, and Julian was hailed as a hero – a man who had risked everything to clear his wife's name and expose a web of deceit. But as the cameras faded and the dust settled, Charlotte knew their battle was far from over. The von Beckers would not go quietly, and the war for their family's legacy had