Alexander''s fist connected with Adrian''s cheek, a dull thud reverberating through the restaurant as Adrian stumbled back, clutching his face in shock. ire''s eyes went wide,pletely taken aback by the sudden violence. This wasn''t supposed to happen. Not like this. "Alexander!" she yelled, moving quickly to stand between him and Adrian. She shoved Alexander away from Adrian with both hands, her heart racing. "What the hell is wrong with you?"


    Adrian, still rubbing his cheek, red at Alexander, his jaw clenched in pain. "You''re out of your mind," he muttered.


    ire wasn''t about to let this escte. She turned on Alexander, her voice low but fierce, trying to keep the growing audience of onlookers from hearing. "You''re drunk. You''re causing a scene. Everyone''s staring," she hissed, pointing a finger at him like she was scolding a child. "I told you to stop this, Alexander. You have no right to decide who I see."


    Alexander''s face flushed with anger, but ire didn''t give him a chance to respond. She grabbed Adrian''s hand, giving it a squeeze, and shot Alexander a re. "Adrian and I? We''re together. You need to get that through your head. You''re not in control of my life anymore."


    Without waiting for a response, ire pulled Adrian with her, weaving through the restaurant''s tables. People were whispering, some staring openly, while others tried to act like they weren''t eavesdropping on the whole mess. ire''s heels clicked sharply on the floor as she marched toward the exit, her grip on Adrian''s hand firm and unyielding.


    Alexander just stood there, blinking as if trying to process what had just happened. He looked lost, unsure of what to do next. That''s when Christian, who had been off somewhere and missed the chaos, walked up with a confused expression.


    "What''d I miss?" Christian asked, ncing between Alexander and the curious crowd.


    Alexander didn''t answer. He just stood there, rubbing his knuckles like he wasn''t sure if he''d actually just hit Adrian or if it had all been in his head.


    The next morning, ire was still fuming. She couldn''t believe Alexander had punched Adrian. Who does that? She muttered to herself as she brushed her hair, her annoyance bubbling up again. "That man is insane," she grumbled. "Completely lost his mind." Adrian, still nursing a sore cheek, had been sweet about it, trying to make light of the situation. But ire couldn''t let it go. Alexander was out of control, drunk, and acting like a jealous fool. It wasn''t the first time he''d tried to push his way into her business, but this? This was a new low.


    She couldn''t dwell on it too much longer, though. Friday had arrived, and that meant one thing-court. ire arrived at the courthouse for the third trial, her heels clicking on the marble floor, echoing through the halls as she walked with determination. This process had been dragging on for weeks, and she was ready for it to be over.


    The courtroom felt familiar now-the same stuffy air, the same rigid wooden benches. But this time, there was a new face in the crowd.


    Lisa.


    ire couldn''t help but feel a wave of relief seeing her there. Good. About the time she shows up.


    The trial proceeded much like the others. ire testified again, her words measured but firm. Lisa''swyer tried to object to everything, of course. It was their strategy-discredit, dy, deflect. But ire stayedposed, letting the facts speak for themselves. Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for-the judge was ready to deliver his verdict.


    "On the part of Lisa Thompson," the judge began, his deep voice carrying through the room, "it has been proven that she is guilty of the charges."


    ire couldn''t help the smirk that tugged at her lips.


    Finally. Justice.


    But just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the judge continued. "However, after reviewing the evidence, it has been determined that Lisa Thompson is experiencing severe mental disorders. As such, she will be remanded to a psychiatric hospital for treatment." ire''s smirk vanished, reced by a scowl. What? She shot a look at herwyer, David, but before she could say anything, the judge was already holding up a file.


    "These medical reports show that


    Ms. Thompson has a history of mental health issues, and she has recently exhibited signs of self-harm and unstable behavior. For these reasons, she will be ced in a psychiatric facility, where she will be monitored by both medical professionals andw enforcement officers."


    ire frowned, her mind racing. Mental health? This has to be part of her n. She didn''t buy it for a second. Lisa was cunning, maniptive, and now she was ying the "crazy" card to escape real punishment. She tried to stand up, ready to argue, but the judge banged his gavel, silencing her protests. "The decision is final. Ms. Thompson will remain under strict supervision in the facility, and this court is now adjourned."


    As the courtroom cleared out, ire couldn''t shake her anger. She didn''t care if Lisa had issues-she deserved to be behind bars, not sitting in some cushy psych ward. She turned to David, her expression hard. "Fix this. I want her in jail," ire said through gritted teeth.


    David gave her a sympathetic nod. "I''ll see what I can do, ire. But mental health cases are tricky. The judge''s decision is final, at least for now."


    ire watched as Lisa was escorted


    out of the courtroom by police officers. For a brief moment, she caught a glimpse of Lisa''s face. It was nk, emotionless-like there was nothing going on behind her eyes. Maybe she really is crazy, ire thought. But no. She wasn''t falling for that. This was all part of


    Lisa''s act, and ire knew it.


    "I don''t trust her," ire muttered to David. "She''s faking it. This is just another one of her schemes."


    David sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Maybe, but unless we can prove it, there''s not much we can do right now."


    ire clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She wasn''t about to let Lisa off the hook. No way. This wasn''t over, not by a long shot.


    As Lisa was led away, her face still devoid of emotion, ire''s eyes narrowed. She wasn''t going to let Lisa hide behind some mental health excuse. She''d find a way to prove the truth-no matter what it took. "Wait, so you tell me that Lisa is being treated in a psychiatric hospital rather than putting her in jail?"


    ire nodded as she paced back


    and forth in her office. Her mind kept remembering the judge''s earlier decision t waspletely unfair to ire because she was the one who suffered under Lisa''s actions, but ire didn''t get the justice she deserved.


    What are you going to do about it?"


    ire said in a frustrated tone. "I honestly don''t know. I asked David to handle this matter but even he is unsure because the judge has made his decision."


    "Damn. That''s really unfair. But how''s Lisa though? Did she look...I don''t know, crazy?"


    "Well, she does look like she ys the part well. Rather than ring at me, frowning, her eyes were nk. Like there is no life."


    "She was born to be an actress."


    ire let out a deep sigh. "I don''t know. I''m confused with the whole situation. I''m going to investigate this matter more deeply. I don''t believe her one bit." She said with determination in her tone. "I''ll help ire. Just tell me what to do and I will do it."