Chapter 111: Chapter 111 Stacked Evidences

Jade’s POV

The air in the hall felt different today.

Not tense in the way it used to be when I walked through these corridors wondering what punishment would come next.

This was something else.

Something heavier.

Something final.

I stood slightly behind the boys.

Ronan on my left.

Renzo on my right.

Ryder just ahead of me, like he didn’t trust anyone in the room enough to turn his back.

And maybe he was right not to.

Because Linda was already there.

Waiting.

She sat in the center of the hall like she belonged there. Like she was the one being protected, not the one being judged. Her hands were folded neatly on her lap. Her expression was calm.

Too calm.

When her eyes landed on me, she smiled.

Softly.

Sweetly.

Like nothing had ever happened.

Like she hadn’t tried to destroy my life.

I felt my stomach tighten.

Ryder shifted slightly beside me.

“She still has the nerve,” he muttered under his breath.

Ronan didn’t respond.

But I saw his jaw clench.

Renzo’s hand moved closer to mine without touching it. A silent question.

Are you okay?

I didn’t answer.

Because I wasn’t sure what I was.

Alive.

Breathing.

Here.

But not okay.

Alpha Ashford stepped forward.

The room fell silent instantly.

Even Linda straightened slightly, like she was preparing for performance.

“My Alpha,” one of the guards said.

Ashford raised a hand.

“No ceremony,” he said coldly. “Not today.”

His eyes landed on Linda.

And for the first time since I had known him...

There was no neutrality there.

Only disappointment.

“Linda,” he said.

She tilted her head slightly.

“Yes, Alpha?”

A soft, fragile voice.

Perfectly acted.

“I hear there are... concerns.”

Her brows lifted slightly.

“Concerns?” she repeated, as if confused. “About me?”

Her eyes flicked briefly toward me.

Then back.

And she sighed softly.

“This is about Jade again, isn’t it?”

My fingers curled.

Ryder made a sound like he was about to speak, but Ronan stopped him with a small movement.

Let it unfold.

That was what Ronan always did.

Let the truth expose itself.

Alpha Ashford gestured.

A servant stepped forward.

Then another.

And another.

My chest tightened slightly.

Something was coming.

I could feel it.

The first servant spoke hesitantly.

“She asked me to say I saw Jade in the kitchen that night.”

Silence.

The second servant followed.

“She told me what to say about the bathroom incident.”

Another.

“She said Jade was unstable.”

Another.

“She said if I didn’t cooperate, I would lose my job.”

My breath caught.

My heart started to beat harder.

Linda’s expression didn’t change.

Not yet.

She simply listened.

Like this was all irrelevant.

Alpha Ashford turned slightly.

“Does this sound familiar to you?”

Linda blinked.

Then laughed softly.

It was small.

Almost amused.

“I think,” she said gently, “there’s been a misunderstanding.”

Ryder took a step forward.

“Oh really?”

His voice was sharp enough to cut.

“You mean all of them misunderstood you separately?”

Linda turned to him.

And smiled.

Like he was a child being unreasonable.

“People panic when they’re questioned by authority,” she said softly. “You know that.”

Renzo exhaled slowly.

Dangerously slow.

“You’re still doing it,” he said quietly.

Linda tilted her head.

“Doing what?”

“Lying.”

That word finally made something flicker across her face.

Just for a second.

Then it was gone again.

“I’ve done nothing but try to help,” she said softly. “I even took care of Jade when she first came here. I supported her. I welcomed her.”

She placed a hand on her chest.

“I have no idea why she has chosen to hate me so much.”

My stomach turned.

Hate.

That was what she called survival.

Alpha Ashford raised a hand.

And another document was brought forward.

“This,” he said, “is from the servant records.”

Linda’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“For what purpose?”

“Security logs,” he continued. “You were not in the west corridor during the time you claimed Jade sabotaged you.”

A pause.

A small crack.

Barely visible.

Then Linda smiled again.

“Maybe I was mistaken about the exact time.”

Ronan stepped forward now.

His voice was quieter than Ryder’s.

But far more dangerous.

“You orchestrated everything.” 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Linda looked at him.

And for the first time...

The sweetness slipped.

Just slightly.

“What are you talking about?”

Ronan didn’t blink.

“The letter.”

Silence.

“The witnesses.”

Silence.

“The staged incidents.”

Silence.

“The manipulation.”

Her lips pressed together slightly.

“Prove it,” she said softly.

And that’s when Alpha Ashford moved.

A sealed envelope was placed on the table.

Then opened.

Inside was handwriting analysis.

Then transport logs.

Then financial transfers.

Then private messages.

Everything stacked.

Everything exposed.

Each piece of paper hitting the table like a nail being driven into something already dead.

Linda’s breathing changed.

Just slightly.

Faster.

Ryder noticed first.

“You’re done,” he said.