Chapter 23 After that day, Elias took over the task of looking after Julian. Neither man could stand the other, but since both wanted to limit Sloane's contact with Julian, they somehow endured the situation. The three of them maintained this strange arrangement until Julian was finally well enough to be discharged from the hospital. That same day was also Lena's trial. At first, Lena refused to cooperate. In court she screamed and sobbed, making a disgrace of herself, begging Julian to spare her. "Julian, please! It was a moment of madness. I know I was wrong! Give me another chance! I'll stay away, I swear-I'll never come near you again! Julian...!" By the end, her voice was hoarse from shouting, but Julian never once looked her way. The first hearing ended in recess due to her outburst. At the second hearing, Sloane attended, accompanied by Elias. This time, Lena's struggle faltered. She froze as if she had seen something, then fell silent. Perhaps she had suddenly realized there was no point. Julian had been injured because of her, and no amount of stalling would change the outcome. So she admitted her guilt outright. The second hearing concluded smoothly. In the end, Lena received no reduction in sentence. Convicted of intentional assault, she was sentenced to eleven years in prison. Remembering the final look Lena had given her, Sloane decided to see her one last time. They met in the prison's visitation room, separated by thick soundproof glass, forced to speak through phones pressed to their ears. Through the heavy barrier, Lena's voice came distorted and hollow. Sloane had never understood why Lena had harbored such bitter hatred toward her. It had puzzled her for years. At last, she asked the question directly. But Lena didn't answer. Instead, her eyes fixed on Elias, watching the way he moved around Sloane with quiet care. After a long silence, Lena finally spoke. "Is he your boyfriend?" Chapter 23 15.13% The unexpected question caught Sloane off guard. After a moment's pause, she nodded. She saw no reason to hide it. She thought Lena would lash out as she had before. But instead, Lena just stared blankly. So Sloane already had someone. Lena suddenly felt her life had been wasted. Because of Sloane, she would spend eleven years behind bars, branded forever by her crime. And yet, what had Sloane lost? Nothing. She had never even played the same game. Lena had thought Sloane's retreat was a calculated move to reclaim Julian. But at that hearing, she had seen Julian, the man who had once shone no matter his illness, looking subdued and lonely. And moments later, she had seen Sloane and Elias enter hand in hand. Something had cracked inside her then. She had clung to a shred of hope, but now that hope was gone. In Julian and Sloane's story, Lena realized she had been nothing more than a joke. She had believed she had won Julian's favor, had driven Sloane away. Yet the very next day, Julian had cast her aside. Five years later, when she saw Sloane again in Julian's villa, she thought it was some ploy. She had burned with anger and lost all sense, grabbing a knife-and destroying her own life in the process. Lena told herself she had been fighting for her future. Julian was the highest man within her reach, so she had used every scheme she knew. Now she saw the truth. She had fought and clawed for something Sloane had already discarded. And it broke her. Chapter 23 15.13% Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!