The Bride Widow
Chapter 187 - 185: Jackson’s trial - Part 1

Chapter 187: 185: Jackson’s trial - Part 1

Jackson had always considered himself a careful man. Even when things didn’t go his way, he prided himself on being able to maneuver out of tight spots. So when he heard about Anabella and Daniel’s finalized divorce, anger surged through him like a wildfire. To him, it was the ultimate humiliation. The one arrangement he had carefully orchestrated was now undone.

His fists clenched as he paced the length of his cramped office. He hadn’t just lost control over Anabella; he’d lost the favor he held with Daniel’s family. It was supposed to be a mutually beneficial deal, but now all he had were debts and a crumbling reputation.

Jackson’s mind raced. There had to be a way to salvage this mess. He thought of Lucy, who had been his partner in schemes before. A sly smile formed on his face. Perhaps one last favor from her would tip the scales back in his favor.

With that thought, he grabbed his coat and stepped out of the office, intent on finding Lucy.

However, before he even reached the front door, the sound of screeching tires and the flash of red and blue lights stopped him in his tracks. Police vehicles lined the street, and officers exited their cars with purpose.

"What the hell is this?" Jackson muttered under his breath.

A firm knock on the door followed. Jackson opened it to find two uniformed officers standing there, their expressions grim.

"Jackson Reed?" one of them asked.

"Yes?" Jackson replied, his tone laced with confusion and irritation.

"You’re under arrest for kidnapping and coercion," the officer stated, stepping forward to take hold of Jackson’s arm.

"What?!" Jackson barked, yanking his arm back. "That’s absurd! I’ve done no such thing! Where’s your proof?"

The officer didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he motioned behind him.

Jackson turned his head, and his heart nearly stopped.

Emerging from the shadows was Noah, the dominant alpha who had been quietly watching from the sidelines of Anabella’s life. His presence was imposing, his posture calm yet commanding. There was a quiet power to him, the kind that made Jackson feel like prey in the presence of a predator.

Noah’s gaze was piercing, his dark eyes fixed on Jackson with a mixture of disdain and satisfaction. He didn’t say anything at first, but the smirk tugging at the corner of his lips spoke volumes.

"It’s over, Jackson," Noah said finally, his deep voice steady and unwavering. "There’s no use denying it. The evidence is already in their hands."

Jackson’s blood ran cold. For the first time in years, he felt truly cornered.

"You set me up," Jackson hissed, his voice trembling with anger and fear.

Noah tilted his head, his smirk widening. "I simply expedited the inevitable. You were always going to fall, Jackson. I just made sure it happened sooner rather than later."

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Jackson’s instincts kicked in. Without thinking, he bolted toward the back door, desperate to escape.

But Noah had anticipated this.

The dominant alpha’s pheromones flooded the room in an instant, an overwhelming wave of command and dominance that slammed into Jackson like a wall. Jackson froze mid-step, his muscles locking up against his will. It was as if invisible chains bound him in place.

"Sit down," Noah ordered, his voice low but dripping with authority.

Jackson had no choice but to obey. His legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed onto the chair nearest to him. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he tried and failed to fight the hold Noah had over him.

"You... you won’t get away with this," Jackson spat, his voice shaky.

Noah leaned closer, his presence suffocating. "I already have. The police have everything they need to put you away for a long time. Kidnapping, blackmail, coercion... shall I go on?"

Jackson’s mind raced, searching for a way out, but every door seemed to close in on him. The police moved in, handcuffing him as he remained trapped under Noah’s influence.

As they hauled him to his feet, Jackson shot Noah a venomous glare. "You think this is the end? You think you’ve won?"

Noah chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that sent a chill down Jackson’s spine. "It’s not about winning, Jackson. It’s about ensuring people like you can’t hurt anyone else. Goodbye."

The officers led Jackson out of the building, his protests growing weaker with each step. The realization of his downfall settled over him like a heavy shroud.

Noah watched from the doorway, his expression unreadable. Once Jackson was gone, he let out a slow breath and straightened his jacket. He had waited a long time for this moment, and while it didn’t erase the damage Jackson had caused, it was a step toward justice.

As he walked away from the scene, Noah’s thoughts turned to Anabella. He had done this for her.

______

Anabella had been folding laundry when the letter arrived, her routine interrupted by the sharp knock of the postman. She wiped her hands on her apron, opened the door, and accepted the envelope without much thought. The courthouse’s familiar stamp immediately caught her eye, and a sense of dread washed over her. She tore it open, skimming the official notice inside.

Her heart sank.

It was a summons for a public hearing—Jackson’s hearing. Her brother’s name, written in cold, unfeeling letters, seemed to leap off the page. Anabella’s stomach churned.

Her first instinct was to toss the notice into the trash. She wanted nothing to do with Jackson anymore, especially after the chaos he had brought into her life. Why should she subject herself to more unnecessary stress? With a heavy sigh, she placed the letter on her kitchen table and walked away, determined to forget about it.

The day passed in a blur of work and errands. Anabella tried to focus on her bakery tasks and the cheerful customers who stopped by, but the letter lingered in her thoughts like an unwelcome guest. By the time evening rolled around, she had managed to push it to the back of her mind.

That evening, Clair and Noah arrived for dinner. They came bearing gifts—fresh produce from Clair’s garden and a bottle of wine that Noah insisted would pair well with Anabella’s cooking. The three of them settled into an easy rhythm, chatting about mundane things as the smell of roasted vegetables and baked bread filled the apartment.

As they waited for the food to finish cooking, Clair wandered into the kitchen. Her sharp eyes immediately landed on the envelope sitting on the table.

"What’s this?" Clair asked, picking it up.

Anabella, who had been setting the table, froze. "It’s nothing important," she said quickly, but Clair was already unfolding the notice.

"Court hearing for Jackson," Clair read aloud, her tone neutral but her expression hard to read. She looked up at Anabella. "Were you planning to go?"

Anabella hesitated, fiddling with the edge of her napkin. "I don’t know," she admitted. "Part of me feels like I should go, but... I don’t want to see him. I’ve had enough of his schemes and manipulation. I just want to move on."

Clair set the letter down and crossed her arms, leaning against the counter. "That’s fair," she said, her voice calm. "But going doesn’t mean you’re forgiving him or letting him back into your life. It could be about closure—for you."

Anabella sighed, her gaze dropping to the floor. "Closure," she echoed. "I don’t even know if I can get that with him."

Noah, who had been listening quietly from the dining room, walked over and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Sometimes seeing things through to the end is what gives you clarity," he said. "Even if it’s difficult."

Anabella looked up at him, her eyes searching his face. Noah’s presence was steady, grounding. She knew he wouldn’t push her to do anything she didn’t want to, but his words carried weight.

"What if it just stirs up more pain?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Then at least you’ll know you faced it head-on," Noah replied.

Clair nodded. "And you’ll have us there for support, if you need it."

The room fell silent for a moment, the only sound coming from the gentle bubbling of a pot on the stove. Anabella’s thoughts swirled. She hated the idea of sitting in a courtroom, surrounded by people, reliving the worst parts of her family’s dysfunction. But Noah and Clair were right—maybe this was her chance to close the Chapter on Jackson for good.

Finally, she nodded. "Alright," she said softly. "I’ll go."

Clair smiled and squeezed her arm. "Good. You’re stronger than you think, Anabella."

As the evening continued, Anabella felt a mixture of dread and determination. She didn’t know what would come of the hearing, but she resolved to face it with her head held high. It was time to confront the ghosts of her past and take one more step toward reclaiming her life.