Chapter 26 - Melissa Takes the StandMelissa entered the courtroom through a side door.
She had accepted responsibility for creating invoices, booking hotels, and helping access Claire’s office.
Her cooperation agreement did not erase those crimes.
It reduced her sentence in exchange for complete testimony.
Daniel refused to look at her.
Melissa described the affair.
He told her the marriage was strategic.
He said Claire understood.
He promised they would be together publicly once he gained equal authority inside Bennett Systems.
Then the prosecutor asked when she first realized Daniel had targeted Claire before meeting her.
Melissa hesitated.
“One night in Suite 1908, Richard said Daniel had been selected because Claire trusted admiration.”
The courtroom became silent.
“Selected?”
“Richard researched people who could enter her social circle. Daniel had financial experience, no powerful family, and enough ambition to follow instructions.”
Claire sat motionless.
Her marriage had not become useful after love faded.
Usefulness came first.
The prosecutor asked what Daniel called Claire privately.
“The locked door.”
“What did that mean?”
“He said everything he wanted was behind her name. The company. The trust. The board. He said marriage was the key.”
Daniel stared at Melissa then.
His expression contained hatred.
She continued.
“At first, I believed he loved me instead.”
“Do you believe that now?”
“No.”
“What did he love?”
“Access.”
The word entered the courtroom and remained there.
Melissa described the forged authorization night.
Daniel brought Claire’s backup phone into the office.
Richard supplied transfer instructions.
Melissa entered the data.
When the process finished, Daniel poured champagne.
“He said Claire had finally become useful without speaking.”
Claire closed her eyes briefly.
On cross-examination, Daniel’s attorney attacked Melissa’s credibility.
She admitted lying.
Admitted the affair.
Admitted taking money.
Then she said something the defense had not expected.
“Yes, I hated Claire because believing she was cruel made it easier to become cruel myself.”
The honesty weakened the attack.
Melissa did not present herself as innocent.
She presented herself as involved.
Before leaving the witness stand, she looked toward Claire.
“I am sorry.”
Claire did not answer.
Forgiveness was not required for testimony to matter.
Melissa had helped Daniel betray her.
Now she had helped expose the structure.
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Both truths could exist.
👉 Melissa revealed the marriage began as a strategy, but Richard still claimed Daniel had acted far beyond the plan they made together.
