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"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 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"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

TRISTIN'S POVI pulled my hand back, resisting her touch. “It’s not that simple. Trust isn’t something you can just rebuild with a few sweet words. You let me down, Livia. You showed me where your priorities really lie.”Her face fell, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of genuine regret. “I know I made mistakes, Tristin. But I want to make things right. Please, give me another chance.”I stared at her, weighing her words. But the hurt and betrayal were still too fresh, too raw. “I need time to think,” I said finally. “Right now, I need to focus on the company and clearing my name completely. We’ll talk later.”Her eyes filled with tears, but she nodded slowly. "Okay, Tristin. I’ll give you time. But please, don’t shut me out completely."I didn’t respond, turning my attention back to the papers on my desk. After a moment, she quietly left my office, the door clicking shut behind her.As Livia left the office, I turned back to my work, trying to shake off the tension from our conversat