SOPHIE'S POV"You think that's clouding your judgment?" Eva asked gently."Maybe," I admitted reluctantly. "But I can't shake this feeling that there's something we're missing, something that could prove his innocence."Eva nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Let's keep digging. Maybe there's a detail we've overlooked, a lead we haven't followed up on. Together, we can figure this out."I nodded gratefully, a flicker of determination sparking inside me. "Thanks, Eva. I needed to hear that."We spent the next few hours huddled over Eva's laptop, poring over news articles, witness statements, and any other information they could find. As we sifted through the details, I felt a sense of purpose rekindled. I might not have all the answers yet, but with Eva by my side, I was determined to uncover the truth— whatever it might be.As me and Eva sifted through the information late into the night, we discovered a discrepancy in the timeline presented by the prosecution. A witness statement the
SOPHIE'S POVDays passed with me and Eva tirelessly combing through information, following leads, and questioning anyone who might have a connection to the crime. We spoke to witnesses, reviewed security footage, and even dug into Tristin's past for any potential motives or enemies. Despite their efforts, concrete evidence remained elusive."I don't get it," I muttered, frustration evident in my voice as we sat in Eva's apartment, surrounded by scattered notes and half-empty coffee cups. "There has to be something we're missing."Eva leaned back in her chair, her brow furrowed in thought. "I know. It's like we're so close, yet every lead turns into a dead end."I rubbed my temples, trying to ward off the growing headache. "What about the night of the murder? Did anyone see Tristin there? Anything unusual?""We've interviewed everyone who was at the party," Eva replied, flipping through her notebook. "No one saw Tristin near the scene of the crime. But that doesn't change the fact that
SOPHIE'S POV"Eva, do you think this will be enough?" I asked, breaking the tense silence in the car.She glanced over at me, her eyes reflecting the same mix of uncertainty and optimism. "It's strong evidence, Sophie. This witness and the security footage could be exactly what we need to cast doubt on the accusations."I nodded, my fingers tapping nervously against my knee. "I just hope the lawyer sees it that way."We arrived at the lawyer's office and rushed inside, breathless but determined. Tristin's lawyer, a sharp-witted woman named Ms. Collins, greeted us with a raised eyebrow as Eva handed over the folder. She wasted no time in reviewing the contents, her expression growing more serious with each page she turned."This changes things," Ms. Collins finally said, looking up at us with a hint of cautious optimism. "If we can verify this witness's account and authenticate the security footage, we might have a solid alibi for Tristin."A wave of relief washed over me, tears threat
SOPHIE'S POV"Were planted," Ms. Collins interjected firmly, her gaze unwavering as she explained the evidence in detail.Mr. Thompson scrutinized the documents, his expression unreadable. My heart sank as moments stretched into eternity, fearing he might dismiss our efforts despite the compelling evidence."This changes things," Mr. Thompson finally conceded, handing back the folder. "But it doesn't prove innocence."Eva spoke up, her voice steady with conviction. "We're asking for a fair investigation. The evidence suggests someone framed Tristin. We need time to uncover the truth."Ms. Collins leaned forward, her tone earnest. "Give us that chance, Mr. Thompson. If you proceed without considering all the facts, you risk an injustice."Silence filled the room, tension thick in the air as Mr. Thompson deliberated. My breath caught in my throat, praying silently for a chance to prove Tristin's innocence."I'll review the evidence," Mr. Thompson finally relented, his tone cautious yet
TRISTIN'S POVEva stood beside them, her eyes bright with unshed tears. She approached me with a tentative smile, reaching out to take my hand in hers. "Welcome back, Tristin," she said softly. "We did it."I nodded, overwhelmed by the sight of my family and Eva standing together, their unwavering support a beacon of hope throughout the darkest moments of my life. "Thank you," I managed to say, my voice catching with emotion. "I couldn't have done this without all of you."Ms. Collins, my lawyer, approached with a stack of paperwork in hand. "Tristin, we have some formalities to take care of," she said with a small smile. "But then you're officially a free man."I nodded, following her to a quiet corner where we completed the necessary paperwork, signing my name with a renewed sense of purpose. As I handed back the pen, the weight of false accusations and imprisonment lifted off my shoulders, replaced by a newfound determination to reclaim my life.Stepping back outside, I took a deep
TRISTIN'S POV“I think she’s supposed to be a cat?” Eva guessed, holding her sides.Sophie froze mid-pose, glaring at us. “I’m a lion, obviously.”“Well, that’s not what it looked like,” I said, wiping tears of laughter from my eyes.“Next time, I’ll just stick to something simple,” Sophie grumbled, though she couldn’t hide her smile.As the evening drew to a close, I felt a deep sense of contentment. The past few weeks had been a nightmare, but tonight, surrounded by laughter and love, it felt like a distant memory.“Thanks for everything, guys,” I said, my voice sincere. “I couldn’t have gotten through this without you.”Mom pulled me into another hug. “We’re just glad you’re home, Tristin.”“Yeah, even if you do have terrible taste in music,” Sophie added, her teasing tone softened by the warmth in her eyes.I grinned. “I missed you too, Soph.”The next morning, I woke up early, the familiar buzz of anticipation filling me. Today, I was returning to work. It felt surreal, stepping
TRISTIN'S POV"That’s great to hear," I said, nodding in approval. "Let’s keep that momentum going. And thank you both for holding down the fort while I was... away."Sophie smirked. "It wasn’t easy, but we managed. Just don’t make a habit of disappearing on us.""I’ll do my best," I replied, the humor in her voice helping to ease the lingering tension.The rest of the day flew by in a whirlwind of meetings and catch-up sessions. It felt invigorating to dive back into work, to tackle problems and strategize for the future. Sophie and Eva were by my side throughout, their support unwavering.Later that afternoon, as I was reviewing some reports in my office, Sophie popped her head in, a mischievous grin on her face. "Hey, CEO. Want to grab some lunch? We can talk about the next steps for the product launch.""Sounds good," I said, standing up and stretching. "I could use a break."We met up with Eva in the lobby and headed to our favorite lunch spot. As we sat down, I couldn’t help but
TRISTIN'S POV"Those are good suggestions, Aaron," I said, keeping my tone neutral. "But we should also consider our budget and ensure we’re not spreading ourselves too thin. We need a balanced approach.""Of course, Tristin," Aaron replied smoothly, not missing a beat. "I’m confident we can make it work within our budget. We just need to be strategic about it."Sophie glanced at me, sensing my annoyance. "Tristin, Aaron’s ideas could really boost our launch. Maybe we can discuss this in more detail back at the office?"I nodded, trying to hide my irritation. "Sure, that sounds good."The rest of the lunch continued in a similar vein, with Aaron effortlessly charming his way through the conversation. Every time he praised Sophie or Eva, I felt a twinge of jealousy. It didn’t help that they seemed to genuinely appreciate his input.As we wrapped up and headed back to the office, Aaron walked ahead with Sophie and Eva, leaving me trailing slightly behind. I took a deep breath, trying to