"What the f**k?! Get out of my apartment or I'll call the police."

"Go ahead. I'm sure they'll be happy to hear about Finlay from you."

"What do you want?"

"Just a little friendly chat..."

The recording I did when I paid that bit*h a visit echoed around the silent courtroom. Candice looked at me horrified like she couldn't believe her ears.

Bit*h I'm an investigative journalist, what else do you expect of me?

I recorded my conversation with her, knowing it'll come in handy someday and it did.

"I pray you never find the love of your life, otherwise you'll kill him, too... Goodbye and hope you rot in hell, blondie!"

The recording stopped, and the room went silent.

"As you heard..." Mr. Wolf placed the device in front of the clerk. "She lied from the beginning and took money from some mysterious guy and brought the man she claims to be in love with in danger."

"Do you have any objection?" Judge asked the prosecutor, who opened and closed his mouth like a fish.

"I-I didn't. This is not me!" Candice leaped from her seat and the bailiffs grabbed her.

I've been charged with attempted murder, but they'll have to charge me for real after I'll kill this sl*t with my bare hands.

"Help Miss Candice take a seat while I would like the defendant's alibis to come forward."

Kayla came first and told them we went to the club and got drunk. The two guys who spoiled the drink on my dress didn't remember my face but my red hair. Michael continued with Kayla's story and told them he dropped us home and on the way, the accident already happened.

Paige told them how we were investigating the case until it was restricted.

"I know she's weird, but I don't believe she's capable of murder." She said, and I beamed at her.

Who would've thought beneath that strict principal is a gracious lady?

Bill told them about our interaction. It surprised me he remembered it, considering how drunk he was.

"I'm glad things ended between us." He let out a belly laugh and pointed at Candice. "Or she would have sold me too!"

God saved you, Bill.

Then it was my turn.

I told them how I met Finlay and thought he was hitting on me, then how I woke up at home not remembering anything and saw the news.

"I was only investigating the case, as I'm a journalist," I concluded.

"Why were you still doing it when the case got closed?" Mr. Wolf asked.

"Curiosity." I shrugged. "I needed a story for my promotion and knew this was the one."

I told them I went to the club again, where I met Conner. I also mention the Knight Corporation visit and what the security guard told me.

"I met Bill and asked Candice for the address and what happened there. You all have already heard it."

"Did you visit Mr. Reed's apartment?"

"No." I glanced at Conner. "I didn't wreck his house."

I lied because I knew I could get into a lot of trouble with the truth. They'll get convinced it was my hair in the wardrobe they found and I won't be able to prove to them it wasn't me who destroyed it.

Sometimes you have to lie to save your a**.

"Can you tell the judge what happened after you left Candice's apartment?"

"I went to my house because it was around three in the morning. After sleeping all day, I went to the hospital, where I met Conner." I flickered my gaze from him to the judge. "I lied to him about having feelings for him to get information about Finlay, which he didn't reveal. Then I went back to my house and Kayla came."

Kayla told them we watched a scary ghost movie, then we did some research on Reed and she left my house.

"In the morning, I thought of going to Reed's apartment, but before I could, the officers came to my house to arrest me for something I didn't do."

They didn't have the CCTV footage of the Greenwich area at the time I visited, which saved me again. I was one hundred percent sure it was the doing of that hoodie guy, but for once, he did something that benefited me.

"There you go, Your Honor." Mr. Wolf clasped his hands. "You may take your seat, Miss Katz." I nodded and took my seat.

"Do you have anything to add?" Judge Eden asked the prosecutor.

"No, Your Honor."

I smirked when I saw Oliver's disappointed face, knowing the victory was ours.

I couldn't help but think of my hair. Things would've turned different if it wasn't for Finlay. My eyes wandered around the courtroom and I looked for him but found him nowhere.

Maybe he's gone.

"Due to the lack of evidence to rule against the defendant, the defendant, Miss Amber Katz, has been pleading, not guilty. As an investigative journalist, she was looking into the case because she was..." He glanced at me from the papers. "Curious." I gave him a sheepish smile. "And got misunderstood by the agents." He turned the page and continued.

"While Candice is being charged with a felony of hiding the truth from the police and helping an unknown man in criminal activity. The FBI is advised to look after the case carefully and find the real criminal instead of charging innocent people. With that, case dismissed." He slammed the hammer and everyone stood up from their seats. "And Miss Katz."

"Yes, Your Honor?" I blinked my eyes at him.

"Be careful next time while investigating." He said and gave him my biggest smile.

"I'll be, Your Honor."

Candice screamed she was innocent and blah blah blah as the bailiffs took her out of the room.

Serves her right.

I thanked Mr. Wolf, my uncle, and everyone else for helping me in the case as everyone left the room.

"Amber?" I turned and saw guilty-looking Conner. "Listen, I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry for what I did to you, Conner. I shouldn't have used your feelings for my benefit." Looking dead into his eyes, I added. "But you shouldn't have got blinded by hurt and brought me in the middle of it."

"You were everywhere and with that obsession, I thought Candice was right-"

"Instead of wasting your time here. You should investigate her. Before the real criminal slips out of your fingers." I plastered a fake smile over my face, ending our conversation.

"You are a great Agent, Conner." Uncle stepped beside me. "I like you for your work and I don't want what just happened to come between our professions."

"It won't sir." Conner nodded.

"But I would like one thing that is for you to stay away from my niece." He narrowed his eyes at him. "I don't want you anywhere near her again."

Conner and Uncle Hudson were close and he always praised Conner for his duties. He also insisted me to date him because he's an honorable man, but now I think their relationship changed because of me.

Conner darted his eyes between us and knew it won't be any use to argue, so he nodded his head.

• • • • •

After celebrating our victory with everyone. I went back to my apartment and made myself dinner. I was eating the pasta as I watched 'Nine Lives' and it remained me of Finlay.

He didn't get the see the ending of it.

I looked around my apartment and found it empty. I thought he might come back like before, but it can't be the case.

I hurt him badly.

The next day I found from my uncle that Finlay's body had departed for Scotland. I wanted to see him one more time to thank him and apologize for what I did, but I lost my chance.

I went to the hospital again to look for him, went to the nightclub, and even took the risk of visiting his apartment, but he wasn't there.

Maybe he really left me.

This was what I wanted despite that, the thought made me dishearten.

• • • • •

A/N

Amber got lucky again and was finally off the hook. I'm not a lawyer and honestly never been interested in this profession but I definitely liked writing this courtroom scene 😂

Oh and if you guys still haven't noticed Mr. Wolf... That's Lexi's daddy. 😆

Hope you guys are enjoying it and I can't for the mystery of Amber seeing Finlay revealed in the next chapters 👀

Till then mis amores 💃