Chapter 1

As a judge, Felix Curtis was widely known for being utterly impartial and incorruptible.

Someone once tried to bribe him with millions of dollars, but the next day, the guy ended up behind bars for bribery.

Another time, right before a trial, Felix was kidnapped and threatened with a gun to his head. He didn't even blink. Felix declared that even if he died, he would still stand up for the law.

But this man, the very embodiment of justice, did the unthinkable in a murder case. To shield his first love's mother, Felix deliberately framed his innocent father-in-law for rape and murder, sentencing him to death.

Eden Harper lost it, blocking Felix's path, her words spilling out in a rush. "Why? You were there that day. You knew my dad was innocent."

Felix just said softly, "I'm sorry. Casey wouldn't have survived the shock. Back then, I misunderstood her. I owed her too much."

"So I was just supposed to survive it?" Eden's chest ached, her voice choking. "You owed her, so you paid with my dad's life?"

"I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you," Felix said, trying to pull her into his arms.

Eden shoved him away, her voice trembling with fury. "Make it up to me? That was my father, a living person who loved me! How could you ever make that right?"

*****

Felix said nothing, his eyes on Eden just as cold and detached as when he faced those hysterical relatives who threw tantrums in court.

Eden's voice trembled with fury. "Felix, where's the sense of justice you're always so proud of? What happened to the law you claimed you'd protect with your life? Are you willing to abandon everything you believe in as a judge, just for Casey?"

Felix paused, then said quietly, "For Casey, I'm willing to break my principles."

His words were like a poisoned knife, plunging straight into Eden's heart. The pain was so sharp she couldn't even speak.

She took two steps back in shock, clutching at her chest as if trying to hold herself together. Tears fell on her face before she even realized it.

It turned out Felix had never let go of Casey, not even after five years of being apart.

Casey was so important to Felix that he was willing to break the very principles he'd vowed to uphold.

'And what about me? Did he ever really love me?' Eden wondered.

But Eden didn't even have time to ask if he ever really cared about her.

She'd hoped seeing Felix would turn things around, but now she knew. He was never going to change his mind.

No more wasting time. She had to find proof before her father was put to death.

"I will never let my father die for something he didn't do!" Eden shouted.

With that, Eden stormed out.

To get the evidence, Eden was beaten and threatened over and over. Her younger brother, Mike Harper, just started college. He risked everything to protect her.

Because of that, Mike was framed for a crime he never committed and thrown in jail.

But Eden knew she couldn't back down.

In the end, she sold her company and everything she owned for pennies, gambling everything she had. At last, she got the evidence.

That evidence was enough to prove her father was innocent, and the real killer was Casey's mother, Maeve.

Now, there was just one day left before her father was scheduled to be executed.

Suddenly, Eden's phone buzzed. The voice said, "Let the family know. Your father's execution will happen in one hour."

Eden felt like her head exploded, a loud buzzing filling her ears.

She blurted out, desperate, "Wasn't it supposed to be tomorrow? Why are you moving it up?"

But the call was already cut off. Eden dialed again and again, but nobody answered.

Eden was frantic, her heart pounding as she raced to the police station.

She blew through red light after red light, finally screeching to a halt at the station with just twenty minutes to spare.

There was still time to submit the evidence. Eden slammed her car door shut and bolted inside.

But just as Eden was about to step inside, Felix suddenly grabbed her from behind, covering her mouth with his hand.

Felix leaned in close, his voice low and cold in her ear. "I won't let you hurt Casey."

Eden struggled with all her might, but Felix held her in an iron grip. No matter how hard she fought, she couldn't break free.

Felix's voice was impatient. "Stop it. Do you really want Casey to lose her mom and be devastated?"

He dragged her into the family quarters at the back of the police station. "You're staying here until your father's execution. Don't even think about leaving."

Eden lunged at him, punching and kicking, shouting, "Felix, you're a monster! You're heartless, treating lives like they're nothing! Let me out! I need to save my dad!"

No matter how hard Eden fought or how fiercely she cursed him, Felix stood guard at the door, never giving her a chance to escape.

Time ticked by, second by second. Every wasted moment was another step closer to her father's death.

Eden's heart burned with agony. She dropped to her knees, overwhelmed by the torment.