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He looks between Jake and me and says, “Make it quick and have a point.”

“For six months last year”—I approach Rachel, who plops back down in her chair—“you were in a relationship with Chloe Miller, correct?”

Rachel’s bravado falters, her cheeks flushing a deep red as she swallows. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Answer the question,” I say firmly, with an attitude I know Rachel hates.

She points her chin up. “Yes.”

“And you backed Ms. Miller’s testimony, claiming she and Theo had an intimate”—I choose my words carefully, maliciously—“conversation. One where Ms. Miller confessed her feelings for another person. Another person who wasn’t you.”

“Your Honor,” Jake says, “badgering the witness.”

“Sustained,” the dean says. “Tread carefully, Ms. Lopez.”

I press on, my voice steady, and I make sure to curve my lips into a smirk when I look at Rachel. “You must have really felt for her after the rejection.” I nod, like I too understand and I am just as sympathetic. “You understand rejection all too well, seeing as Mr. Miller is the one who broke up with you.”

Rachel’s eyes widen, embarrassment creeping into her expression. “It was mutual. We just wanted to be friends.”

I purse my lips. “Sure it was.” I aim to be as condescending as possible. “You love Ms. Miller so much you still wanted to be friends after she said she didn’t see you in a romantic light. Wow, you’ve got a big heart, Ms. West. That must be why when Mr. Hudson dumped her, despite feeling relief because you still had feelings for her, you were upset that she was rejected, angry that anyone could ever hurt the person you hold so dear.”

I slam my hand on her desk. “That’s why you plotted with Ms. Miller to frame Mr. Hudson. You wanted to punish Theo for rejecting Ms. Miller’s love, so you plotted to vandalize the statue and frame Mr. Hudson for it.”

She stands again. “That’s not true.”

At her anger, my heart thunders, and I can feel my claws digging into her. I sink them in deeper, feeding off her heightened emotions. “You were jealous. You love Chloe so much, and yet she moved on so easily from you, but you also hated anyone not loving her the way you do. I admire that, really, if only you were as forgiving as Ms. Miller, who just last week was seen getting cozy with Mr. Hudson.”

Theo, who has been quiet for most of the time, finally speaks up. “Excuse me?”

Now he speaks. I wave a hand his way, hoping he just remains quiet.

“What are you talking about?” Rachel hisses.

“You didn’t know?” I hold a hand to my mouth, stifling a giggle. “I guess your affection for Ms. Miller really is one-sided if she didn’t tell you. Maybe you should try harder; I don’t think she understands the depths of your feelings for her.”

“Of course she does, she has to,” Rachel snaps, looking past me to Chloe in the audience. “I did this for you,” she says, sounding betrayed and heartbroken.

Silence settles around us. Rachel’s eyes widen as her gaze darts around the courtroom, her expression shifting from pain to desperation. “I didn’t mean that. It just slipped out.” Her voice trembles as she realizes the weight of her words. “This is ridiculous. I didn’t do anything.”

“Neither did Chloe,” I whisper so only we can hear. “That last part was a lie.” I wink. I prefer to win cases solely based on facts, but since this case was founded on a lie, I figure it’s okay if I play a little dirty too.

Evidence is circumstantial, I know, which is why I aimed for this.

Who could argue with a confession?

“You were a part of this too,” Rachel yells, grabbing onto my arm.

“You lost.” I smile, mirroring her words. “Chin up; I’m sure this won’t be your last.”

I let her dig her nails deeper into me. The bigger the scene, the better. “I paid you to sabotage the case; you accepted it. You were in on this too!”

“Your Honor?” I say, wincing. “Does it look like I’m sabotaging the case here?”

“Liar.” Rachel digs so hard into my skin I yell.

“Hey!” I recognize Lexie’s voice screaming from the audience. “I’ll kill you; let go of my best friend!”

Despite the instinct, I don’t fight back. I’m basically a rag doll as Rachel reaches over and pulls at my hair. The more insane I can make her look, the less likely any statement she has against me holds.