Layla took the stand on day four.
She looked fragile. Thin. Pale. Like the weight of everything had physically diminished her. She was sworn in, sat down, and kept her eyes on her hands.
Marcus approached gently. "Ms. Brooks, can you tell the jury about your relationship with Ethan Carter?"
"We had an affair." Her voice was barely audible. "For two years. While he was married to my stepsister."
"Did you know he was married when it started?"
"Yes." She looked up, tears already falling. "I knew. And I did it anyway. I'm not here to make excuses. What I did was horrible. Unforgivable."
The jury leaned forward. This wasn't what they'd expected.
"Why did you do it?" Marcus asked.
"Because I was jealous. Because Violet had everything I wanted. Because Ethan made me feel like I mattered f
