Chapter 4

The ceremonial hall fell into a deathly silence as I held up my phone once more. My back screamed in agony from the lashes, but the pain seemed distant now, overshadowed by the weight of what I was about to reveal.

"My third piece of evidence," I said, my voice echoing against the stone walls, "will show you what really happened to Chase Spencer."

Westin's face drained of color. "Carissa, don't—"

"Play it," Eleanor commanded, her eyes fixed on my phone.

The screen illuminated with a recording I'd made three months ago—a conversation between Westin and Azalea in the garden…