Chapter 7: The Secret That Destroyed Three Lives

The entire square waited for my answer.

Even the wind seemed to stop.

I slowly opened my swollen eyes.

For the first time since the trial began, I looked directly at Claire.

"I'm sorry..." I whispered.

"Sorry?" Claire asked through trembling lips.

"Is that all you have left to say?"

Before I could answer, the memory extractor suddenly emitted another piercing alarm.

"Critical memory unlocked."

"Final security barrier removed."

The giant screen flashed white.

A brand-new memory began playing.

It was the night after Lily's assault.

I was sitting beside her hospital bed.

She looked pale, fragile, and completely broken.

Neither of us had spoken for nearly an hour.

Finally, Lily reached beneath her blanket and handed me a small voice recorder.

"Rachel..."

"If anything happens to me... don't let Claire hear this."

I frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

"Promise me first."

Reluctantly, I nodded.

"I promise."

Lily gave me a weak smile.

"Thank you."

She closed her eyes.

"The man who attacked me..."

"...was Claire's father."

The entire square exploded.

"What?"

"Impossible!"

"No..."

Claire's face instantly lost every trace of color.

"No... that's impossible..."

On the screen, tears streamed down my younger face.

"Lily... are you certain?"

"I saw him."

"He realized I recognized him."

"He begged me not to tell anyone."

"Then..."

"He attacked me."

"He said if I spoke... Claire would lose everything."

"Her family... her future... her life..."

Lily broke into uncontrollable sobs.

"Rachel... Claire has already lost so much."

"If the truth comes out... she'll become the daughter of a monster."

"She'll never recover."

"Please... protect her..."

"Don't let her carry this shame."

"Promise me..."

My younger self completely broke down.

"Lily... you're asking too much."

"I know..."

Lily whispered.

"But you're the only one I can trust."

The memory changed again.

It showed me burning the voice recorder inside an old metal barrel behind my house.

I watched the flames consume the only evidence.

As the recorder melted, I collapsed onto my knees.

"Forgive me..." I cried.

"Forgive me, Lily..."

"Forgive me, Claire..."

Back in the present, the crowd stood frozen.

Nobody spoke.

Nobody moved.

Claire stared blankly at the screen.

Her breathing became uneven.

"No..."

"My father... wouldn't..."

But another memory immediately appeared.

Police officers arrived at the Sutton residence the very next morning.

Claire's father quietly packed a suitcase before anyone questioned him.

He kissed young Claire on the forehead.

"Daddy has to leave for work."

"Be a good girl."

Then he disappeared forever.

The screen faded to black.

Reality returned.

Claire's knees suddenly gave out beneath her.

She collapsed onto the platform, staring at me with tear-filled eyes.

"Rachel..."

"You've been carrying this alone... for ten years?"