Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 189

Claim 50 Coins By Check in Maha

After listening to Zachary’s detailed breakdown of the case, Victoria, who had spent decades on the bench as a judge, couldn’t help but let out a long, weary sigh. “Aubrey, your father was far too impulsive. A petty dispute spiraled into a full–blown legal nightmare. When the physical evidence and witness testimonies are this solid, it’s nearly impossible to overturn a conviction–unless the real killer confesses.”

“But Mom,” Tracy asked, “why would a killer ever just admit to it?”

Victoria looked at her.“Through high–pressure interrogation. Psychological traps, bluffing, polygraph tests… short of physical coercion, every tactic in the book is used to break a suspect’s will.”

“Then who’s the killer? Zachary doesn’t even have a lead yet, does he?” Tracy sighed, shifting to sit cross–legged on the sofa and resting her chin in her hand.“Zachary mentioned that Aubrey’s father was only inside the crime scene for forty seconds before he came back out. In the eyes of a jury, those forty seconds are the window where the assault happened. It’s almost impossible to argue against that.”

Chase looked grim as he took a sip of his tea, clearing his throat. “It’s a tough spot, truly. It’s no wonder Aubrey’s appeals have been rejected so many times over the years. We can’t really blame my brother for the way things turned out.”

Hearing this, Victoria’s expression soured.“Don’t you dare make excuses for him. The truth is, your brother looks down on Aubrey. If it were any member of the Blackwood family, he would’ve cut through the red tape and approved a retrial years ago. I mean, what’s the harm? At worst, the original verdict stands. But at best? They might actually find a breakthrough.”

“My brother isn’t that kind of man,” Chase countered, though his voice lacked conviction.

Victoria let out a sharp, cynical scoff.“Maybe not. But his wife certainly is.”

Chase fell silent, unable to find a rebuttal.

other

‘She can’t stand that our side of the family is doing better than theirs. She’s obsessed with competition, always looking for a way to claw ahead. On the surface, she’s all poise and dignity, playing the part of the grand matriarch who only cares about ‘legacy‘ and ‘reputation,‘ but she’s as ruthless and inderhanded as they come behind closed doors.” Victoria was on a roll now, her resentment spilling out in a heated rush. “I honestly suspect she had a hand in Aubrey losing the baby. She’s been eyeing your father’s private collection for years, and now that the family estate is tied to the birth of the irst great–grandchild, she’s probably breathing down her daughter–in–law’s neck to get pregnant. She’d do anything to make sure the primary heir loesn’t come from our branch of the family.”

Chase’s face clouded over as he leaned back into the sofa cushions.“Victoria, honey, stop. You’re making them out to be villains. Don’t let your mind go

o such a dark place.”

Am I wrong?” Victoria snapped, her voice rising an octave when she saw her husband wasn’t taking her side.“Neither of my sons was getting married, and her son wasn’t exactly rushing to the altar either. But the moment Zach showed interest in settling down, she tried to shove her own niece down his throat! When that failed, she immediately scouted some high–society girl for her son to marry in a whirlwind wedding just to keep up.”

Chase didn’t say a word, choosing to sip his tea in silence.

Victoria only grew more agitated as she spoke.“Look, I never wanted to force Zach into marriage, but seeing her pull those stunts… it makes my blood soil. I can’t just let it go.”

She turned her sharp gaze toward Zach. “Zach, you and Liv need to step it up. You have to have a baby before your cousin does. We need to inherit your ¡randfather’s estate–I want to drive that woman insane with envy.”

Zach’s expression remained unreadable against his tanned skin, but the tips of his ears flushed a deep, telltale crimson.“Mom, you can’t just… produce a :hild on command.”

Of course you can,” Victoria said with absolute finality.“You’re strong and healthy, and Liv is young. Stop using protection. Get her pregnant as soon is possible. You won’t even have to worry about the stress of it–I’ll bring two nannies over and raise the child myself.”

Zach dropped his head, rubbing his forehead with one hand. His ears were now completely beet–red.

Tracy saw right through her older brother’s predicament. Hiding in the corner of the sofa, she covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. Zachary had always been the ultimate guy’s guy–a total straight–shooter with none of the gentle, smooth–talking charm their second brother possessed. Zachary was undeniably handsome, but his features were carved from granite, always set in a stern, unapproachable mask. He was the cold, silent type who rarely :racked a smile, and as a result, he’d never exactly been a lady–killer.

He hadn’t even had female friends back in school. After graduation, he’d enlisted in the military, throwing himself into a world of men where he’d been forged into something as hard as iron.

After his discharge, he joined the police force, a career that made it even less likely for him to cross paths with any eligible women.

15.70

50 AD

< Chapter 189

Claim 50 Coins By Check in

Menu

On top of that, he had seen far too many colleagues lose their lives in the line of duty while working narcotics. He had long since accepted the idea that he might one day make the ultimate sacrifice for his country, so he’d never even entertained the thought of getting a girlfriend, let alone getting

married.

Seeing how crimson his ears were beneath his buzz cut, Tracy suspected he hadn’t so much as held his new wife’s hand yet.

Now that their mother was blatantly pressuring them to start a family, Zachary was likely picturing the beautiful young woman waiting for him at home. That had to be the reason for his sudden bashfulness.

Fortunately, his skin had been tanned to a deep bronze from years in the sun, making it impossible to see the flush creeping up his face.

If it had been their second brother, with his pale, flawless complexion, his face would have been as red as a beet by now.

Meanwhile…

Aubrey Hayes finished reading the case file and closed it. She looked at Zachary Blackwood, her expression professional and focused.“Zachary, looking at this through a legal lens, I have a question. The file mentions four witnesses, including Madison Lewis–the victim Blake Taylor’s wife. Was she in the habit of selling herself, or was this a one–time thing?”

Zachary leaned in, his voice level. “It wasn’t a career, but whenever money was tight and her husband didn’t feel like working, he’d force her back into the life. He was essentially pimping out his own wife.”

Without her memories to cloud her judgment, Aubrey felt like a clinical observer, her logic sharp and detached.“If my father really was the killer, why would he maintain his innocence so fiercely even after being convicted? It doesn’t fit the profile of someone who commits a crime of passion. Usually, they’d show remorse or try to cut a deal for a lighter sentence. They don’t just… hold out like this.”

Victoria nodded quickly in approval.“Exactly. Aubrey is right. I’ve handled countless cases, and people with limited education who act on impulse don’t have that kind of mental endurance. They usually break under pressure. The only people who refuse to admit guilt even when facing a heavy sentence are those who are genuinely innocent–people whose conscience simply won’t let them confess to a lie.”

Zachary turned his gaze back to Aubrey.“So, you think Madison Lewis is the key? You think she’s hiding something?”

Aubrey drifted into a pensive silence, the gears turning behind her eyes. A few beats later, her voice dropped, heavy with gravity.“I think Madison Lewis is the most critical person in this entire case.”

Every person in the room fixed her with a questioning look.

Damon looked particularly lost.“Madison never left the room, Aubrey. The video footage provided her with a perfect alibi, didn’t it?”

“She’s not the killer,” Aubrey said, her voice cutting through the doubt with razor–like precision.“But she’s almost certainly the motive.”

“What do you mean?”

Aubrey shifted her gaze to Damon, her eyes searching his.“There’s a missing piece in this puzzle. Don’t you find it strange?”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify