Tempted By My Ex's Brother-in-Law (Aria and Grayson) novel Chapter 156

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I clenched my fists. “Didn’t you hear what I said? They set me up. It’s a fucking trap! Would you really believe our enemies over your own girlfriend?”

“You think I’m stupid?” he shot back. “They have pictures of you and Zane Elrod naked in bed, and you expect me to believe it’s some kind of ridiculous setup? If it were you, who would you believe?”

1 froze, angry tears filling my eyes.

He was right. If I were him, I’d probably believe the photos too.

God, what could I possibly do to make him see the truth?!

“What the hell are you crying for?” he snapped. “You slept with Elrod, and you still feel you’re the victim?”

“Don’t you have any faith in me Grayson? Do you really think I’m that kind of person who’d sleep around? You’re my boyfriend, Grayson! You’re the only one I love!” I shouted through my tears.

But his face stayed cold, furious.

“I don’t see your love. All I know is that you ran off behind my back to meet Zane, and after he proposed to you, the two of you were found naked in the same bed. So maybe people are right about you—you don’t give a damn about me. You just want a fancy title and my money. The second I said I wouldn’t marry you, you went straight to another man’s bed!”

I covered my mouth, tears streaming down my face.

The pain was unbearable. Nothing hurt more than the man you love thinking you’re a fucking monster.

“Just… Just tell me…What can I do to make you believe me?” I sobbed, desperate.

“Nothing. The trust is gone,” he said icily.

I sucked in a trembling breath. Even the air felt cold going down my throat.

“Then why are you even here?” I screamed, choking. “Why come pretending to care? Just fucking go!”

He grabbed my wrist tightly, forcing me to look at him. “You’re wrong. I don’t care. I came here for one reason to tell you I’m voting for Isla in the final trial.”

My teeth clenched. Tears blurred my vision.

“Your beloved Zane thinks he is strong and powerful enough to save you, right? Fine. Let’s see if he still can keep you safe when the jury finds you guilty,” he said cruelly.

I lunged forward and bit his hand hard. He cursed and let go. I stumbled back, putting as much distance as I

could between us.

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Chapter 156

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“If you want Isla to win–if you want to let her walk away free with her sins–then just say it. You don’t need to find yourself such a lame excuse,” I said hoarsely, heartbroken.

He glared at me, voice cold as ice. “You’ll regret choosing Zane.”

He didn’t know. I already regretted it.

I regretted ever meeting him, ever letting him drag me into his twisted, dark, bloody world.

I was just an ordinary girl. I had no title, no high–born family, no strong wolf. I was weak as hell and everyone in his world wanted to destroy me. Maybe I would’ve been happier if I’d never met him.

Isla had already won this battle.

She was cunning, ruthless, and cold, just like him. She belonged to his world. They were the same kind of

person.

I was the fool who thought love could save me.

“We were never meant to be together,” I choked. “It’s… all a mistake.”

His jaw tightened. “That’s not for you to say.”

With that, he turned and stormed off into the dark hallway.

I slid down the wall, burying my face in my hands as I broke down completely.

Without his vote, I had no hope left of winning the trial. All that waited for me now was punishment.

Loving him had cost me everything.

And it was far too late to regret it.

For the next two days, I waited.

I waited for Isla and my mother to show up. Because I wanted to confront them myself.

But they never came. Maybe they thought they’d already won, so they didn’t even bother.

Finally, the day of the final trial arrived.

Soldiers escorted me into the courtroom. Just like before, it was packed with Alphas, nobles, and armed guards.

Every head turned when I entered. All the eyes were full of mockery and disgust. Some people were whispering, others were laughing with mockery.

The room was full, yet I’d never felt more alone.

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Chapter 156

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I looked around for Lady Quentina, the only friendly face here, but the guard shoved my shoulder roughly, forcing me to move forward.

“Silence. The final trial is about to begin,” the elder announced.

He stood at the front, looking down at me from the platform.

“The plaintiff is present. Aria Collins, you have one last chance to withdraw your accusation and avoid punishment. Do you wish to withdraw?”

Every eye in the room turned toward me.

Isla stood a couple of feet away from me. She wore a stunning pink dress today. Her long curls were styled perfectly, her makeup flawless. It’s like she was at a ball, not a trial.

She met my gaze and smiled at me coldly. Almost like she was saying: This is mercy. Take it.

I looked away from her and lifted my chin. My voice came out loud and clear:

“No. I will not withdraw!”

The room erupted in whispers. The elder had to slam his gavel several times.

“Silence! Silence! Aria Collins, do you understand you’ll face the most severe punishment if you lose this case? Even knowing that, you still refuse?”

“Yes!” I snapped, saying through my clenched teeth. “Because I know Isla is guilty. She’s tried to kill me more than once, and my friend nearly died because of her! Everything I’ve done was to bring her to justice. So yeah, that’s right. I’m not backing down.”

Isla stood up, glaring coldly at me. “Everyone, I don’t know why Miss Collins still clings to her lies. Either she’s lost her mind or she’s just desperate for attention.”

Her lawyer rose as well. “I’m sure everyone here saw yesterday’s news and saw how she cheated on Alpha Grayson. She’s a woman with absolutely no morals or shame. So why would anyone believe a single word she says?”

The crowd stirred again, their voices growing louder. Then the lawyer pulled out a remote and turned on the giant screen in the middle of the courtroom.

A video began to play.

There I was. Sitting in the messy bed. Wrapped in nothing but a sheet, my hair a mess, my skin pale, my eyes wide in horror and panic.

“Look at this, everyone!” the lawyer shouted over the noise. “This is Aria Collins caught in bed fucking another man. That’s evidence you can’t ignore. She’s a nutcase, a liar, and a goddamn slut.”

“No…” I whispered, my whole body shaking. “Don’t… turn it off…”

But no one listened. My voice was drowned out by laughter and sneers. And I heard people saying:

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Chapter 156

“Look at her skanky face. I bet that man gave her a good fuck that night.”

“She really thought she could compete with Lady Isla for Alpha Grayson? So pathetic.”

“I heard her mom’s a stripper. Like mother, like daughter.”

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“Stop it!” I screamed, my voice cracking. “You don’t know anything! You don’t even know me! Stop-”

BANG!

A sharp crash silenced the room.

Grayson had slammed a glass onto the center table, shattering it into pieces. He lifted his head slowly, glancing around the room, his face cold as stone. No one dared to breathe under his icy stare.

“Are we fucking done here?” he said darkly. “Aren’t we voting yet?”

The elder flinched. “R–right. Let’s start the vote. As before, the House of East will start.”

My heart pounded so fast I could barely breathe.

One by one, the Alphas cast their votes. The first four Houses voted the same as last time.

Once again, we reached the same outcome–a tie.

It all came down to the final vote.

“Alpha Grayson, it’s your turn,” the elder eventually said. “According to the law, you cannot abstain this time.”

I slowly turned my gaze to him. He was looking right back at me, his face expressionless.

My lips trembled. My eyes blurred with tears. And I was praying so hard internally: Grayson, please…

Yet his expression grew colder. Even more ruthless. And then, his voice cut through the silence: ·

“The House of Middle finds the defendant…not guilty.”

The courtroom exploded. Some were cheering, some were applauding, and some were shouting Isla’s name.

And me. My heart had plummeted into darkness. Like my soul had died right there.

“Aria Collins, you have falsely accused a noble. The punishment for such a crime is severe. Your hands and feet will be severed, and you will be demoted to an omega.”

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Chapter 157