“The tests show that she was sexually assaulted,” said Felicia, the head of the medical team on the cruise ship. “We also took samples of the attacker’s bodily fluid deposited in her body.”There was a collective gasp from all the women comprising Emilia, Lillian, Elsie and Lara. The men were all stone-faced except Samuel who was glaring at Chloe where she sat with her head down.“I’m not denying that I had sex with her, but all I’m saying is that it was consensual, not rape,” he insisted.“What about the bruising and her torn clothes?” Felicia countered him.“Haven’t you ever had rough sex before?” He fired back.“Stop lying!” Chloe yelled at him. “You raped me. You were coming on to me and I told you I wasn’t interested, and then you grabbed me by the waist and threw me on the roulette table.”“Shut up, liar!” He snarled at her.“You shut up!” Lara snapped at him. “We will press charges against you for this. Don’t think that you will get away with assaulting my daughter even if you’

“I can’t believe it! How could she do that?” Chloe cried.“I’m just as shocked as you are,” said Emilia. “for some reason, it just seemed weird. As if Lillian wasn’t in her right senses.”“Probably not. I should press charges against that bastard for raping me. Maybe that will bring Lillian back to her senses.”Emilia shifted uncomfortably on her seat and adjusted her skirt even though there was nothing wrong with it.“What?” Chloe asked her big sister suspiciously. “You don’t want me to do it, do you?”“Chloe, you know I love you and I will always support you – ““But?”Emilia sighed. “The timing isn’t right. Kane and I are trying to put a lid on this Serena’s issue and it wouldn’t help if everyone’s attention gets divided because of your issue with Samuel.”“My

“Are you sure he’s going to go along with this?” Lillian asked fearfully.“He better or we’ll air him out and let the world know that he’s a serial rapist,” Kane replied confidently.“But he’s Crystabels’ father. We can’t do that to him.”“Would you rather he holds you hostage in a marriage that has already ended? He doesn’t want you any more than you want him. He’s only with you for his own benefit.”“I know but he could still use those explicit photos against me.”“What explicit photos?”“What do you mean? Didn’t Emilia tell you about them?”“No. She only said Samuel was blackmailing you but she didn’t specify what the blackmail was about.”“Oh…”“Lillian? What is it? What’s in the photos you mentioned?”She began to fidget in her seat. “I better get going. I’m meeting Mother at the city sports centre and the other organizers of the Women’s Wellness Outreach gala.”“I don’t care if you’re meeting with the governor and his ancestors, but if you don’t answer my question, you’re not le

“That audio recording has done its magic,” Virgil informed Kane over the phone a few days after the TV interview. “the publishing company has cancelled their deal with Serena.”“As they should. She was going to write hundreds of pages filled with lies about me and my family. She should have taken the money I offered her.”“She might reach out to you for it.”“That offer is off the table. She missed her chance.”“Well, that’s that then. My work here is done but don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you need my services again.”“Of course, thank you.”After the phone conversation, he went in search of Emilia and found her in the sunroom with Lillian and Elsie.“Hello, ladies. May I join you?”“Of course, darling,” said Elsie. “we were going over the details of your upcoming wedding anniversary party.&r

“We will have the mansion under a one-week surveillance to see if the stalker will show up again,” said the police officer, Gary Wesley. “so, have no fear, Mrs Beaumont. If he shows up again, we will catch him and arrest him.”“That’s very reassuring, thank you.” Said Emilia.“If the stalker isn’t caught this week, will you extend your surveillance by another week?” Kane wanted to know.“Let’s see how this week goes first but I am confident that we will catch the stalker if he shows up again,” said officer Wesley.“Fair enough. Thank you for your time.”After the policeman left, Kane joined Emilia in the sunroom where she was brooding alone.“Don’t worry, my love. You’re safe with me,” he said softly. “and if the police can’t protect us, nobody else can.”“I’m just trying to figure out who could be playing this prank on me. What if it’s Matt?”“Who? The Wyoming guy?”“Yes.”“I don’t think so. Why would he leave his job and family to come here and leave dumb notes for you?”“I know, bu