After deciding to represent her husband, Adam Morgan, Sarah Morgan returns home, emotionally and physically drained, and immediately begins to strategize. Viewing the case from a lawyer's perspective, she identifies Adam as the most obvious suspect, possessing means, motive, and opportunity, but also considers Scott Summers, whose violent temper and threatening text messages make him a viable alternative. Realizing she needs to investigate the victim, Kelly Summers, more deeply to uncover any other potential enemies, she jots down notes.
Chapter 16: A Fragile Alliance
Later that evening, Sheriff Ryan Stevens calls to check on Sarah and provide an update on Adam’s injuries—a broken cheekbone and a minor concussion. Sarah apologizes for her earlier hostility, and Ryan responds with an offer of both professional and "friendly" support. Sarah recognizes the inappropriate undertone but understands she needs his help, resolving to keep their relationship strictly professional.
The conversation establishes a tentative, complex alliance between them, built on a shared goal but complicated by a subtle, unspoken attraction. The theme of Betrayal and Deception is palpable as Sarah must navigate her husband's infidelity while forming a necessary partnership with the lead investigator.
Chapter 17: A Husband's Guilt
From his hospital bed, Adam is consumed by guilt over the emotional turmoil he is causing Sarah, fearing this ordeal will be too much for her to bear. He contemplates telling her to drop the case, believing she shouldn't have to clean up his mess.
His thoughts drift to his affair with Kelly, and he admits to himself that while he loves his wife, he loved Kelly, too. This internal conflict highlights the theme of Love and Infidelity. Despite his remorse, Adam remains convinced that Scott Summers is the real killer, clinging to the hope that Sarah and Sheriff Stevens will uncover the evidence needed to prove his innocence, all while being tormented by the destructive consequences of his actions.
Chapter 18: A Dark Past
This chapter flashes back to two weeks before the murder. Adam is at the lake house when Kelly arrives unexpectedly, her face bruised and bloodied. She collapses into his arms, revealing that her husband, Scott, is responsible for her injuries. This is the first time Adam learns the true nature of her marriage.
Kelly then makes a shocking confession: her real name is Jenna Way. Years ago, she was accused of murdering her first husband. Though she claims innocence, the charges were only dismissed because evidence was misplaced during the trial. Scott, who was involved in her case, helped her escape conviction but now uses this dark secret to control her, making her feel like she is serving a life sentence with him. This revelation introduces the theme of Power, Control, and Manipulation. Adam, horrified but still professing his love, promises Kelly that Scott will never hurt her again—a vow that now rings with tragic irony.
Chapter 19: The Crime Scene
Sarah returns to her law office, projecting an image of composure she doesn't feel. She briefs her paralegal and friend, Anne, on the case, asking for background checks on the Summerses. Their conversation is interrupted by the unwelcome arrival of Adam’s mother, Eleanor, a condescending and judgmental woman who is in denial about her son's capacity for wrongdoing. After a tense exchange, Sarah leaves to meet Sheriff Stevens at the lake house, the scene of the crime.
At the house, Ryan gives Sarah the preliminary autopsy report, which contains a series of bombshells: Kelly had Rohypnol in her system, she was four weeks pregnant, and a DNA test confirms Adam is the father. The case is now a potential double homicide, making Adam eligible for the death penalty. Furthermore, two other sets of male DNA were found in Kelly's vagina. Inside the house, Sarah is overcome by the sight of the blood-stained bedroom, and Ryan comforts her in a moment that blurs their professional boundaries. Her legal instincts take over, and she discovers a hidden compartment in Adam’s desk. Inside is a handgun and a manila envelope containing a provocative photo of Adam and Kelly. On the back is a handwritten threat: "END IT OR I WILL." This discovery shatters The Façade of a Perfect Marriage and provides the first piece of concrete evidence that someone else knew about the affair and wanted it to stop.
Chapter 20: The Interrogation
Sarah meets Adam at the county jail, ready to conduct a formal interview. Adam recounts the night of the murder, admitting to drinking scotch and having rough sex with Kelly. He reveals a critical flaw in his story: there is a period of time he cannot remember between falling asleep and being woken by the sound of a car door slamming. Sarah immediately points out how damaging this memory gap will be for his defense.
The interrogation intensifies as Sarah confronts him with the evidence. She reveals that Kelly was seeing at least one other man, a fact that visibly stuns Adam. She then presents the note he left for Kelly, which reads, "tonight I determined the ending," explaining how a prosecutor could twist his romantic words into a confession. The final, devastating blow comes when Sarah tells him Kelly was pregnant with his child. Adam erupts in a mix of grief and denial, claiming he didn't know. Sarah, pushed to her limit by his lies, unleashes her fury before regaining her composure. The chapter ends with her delivering a chilling warning: if convicted, the state will seek his execution, solidifying the life-or-death stakes of the case and the twisted nature of Revenge and Justice.
Key Events
- Sarah officially takes on Adam's case and begins her investigation, identifying Scott Summers as an alternate suspect.
- A flashback reveals Kelly Summers's real name is Jenna Way, and she was previously accused of murdering her first husband. It also confirms Scott was physically abusive and used her past to control her.
- The autopsy report reveals Kelly was drugged with Rohypnol and was four weeks pregnant with Adam's child.
- Two additional, unidentified sets of male DNA are found in Kelly's body.
- Sarah discovers a hidden photo of Adam and Kelly with a threatening message written on the back: "END IT OR I WILL."
- Adam admits to a memory gap on the night of the murder, severely weakening his credibility.
- Sarah informs Adam about Kelly's pregnancy and warns him that he faces the death penalty for a double homicide.
Character Development
- Sarah Morgan: She compartmentalizes her personal pain to function as a sharp, strategic lawyer. However, moments of vulnerability—particularly at the crime scene and during her confrontation with Adam—reveal the immense emotional toll. Her relationship with Sheriff Stevens is established as a complicated mix of professional necessity and subtle personal connection.
- Adam Morgan: His character is defined by guilt and a frustrating lack of credibility. His memory gap and his shocked reactions to the revelations about Kelly's pregnancy and other lover paint him as either a masterful liar or a man completely out of his depth.
- Kelly Summers (posthumously): The flashback transforms her from a one-dimensional mistress into a tragic figure with a dark past. She is revealed to be a victim of abuse and blackmail, making her motivations and secrets central to the mystery.
- Sheriff Ryan Stevens: He emerges as a sympathetic and reasonable investigator who questions the obvious narrative. His kindness toward Sarah, however, contains an undercurrent of personal interest that complicates their professional dynamic.
- Scott Summers: Kelly's confession solidifies his role as a primary suspect. He is no longer just a grieving husband but a manipulative, violent man with a powerful motive for revenge.
Themes & Symbols
The illusion of the Morgans' "perfect marriage" is completely shattered in these chapters, as the revelations of Adam's long-term affair, his plan to leave Sarah, and his secret child expose the deep rot beneath the surface. This section highlights the themes of betrayal, deception, and control.
- The Façade of a Perfect Marriage: The revelations of Adam's long-term affair, his plan to leave Sarah, and his secret child expose the deep rot beneath the surface.
- Betrayal and Deception: The theme deepens with multiple layers of deceit. Adam betrayed Sarah, Kelly betrayed Scott (and Adam, with a third man), and Scott deceived everyone by hiding his abusive nature behind a badge.
- Power, Control, and Manipulation: Scott's control over Kelly through blackmail is a prime example of this theme. He used her past to trap her in an abusive marriage, stripping her of her agency.
- The Threatening Photo: This object symbolizes the loss of secrecy and the imminent danger surrounding the affair. It is the first tangible proof that the affair was not a secret and that a third party held a violent grudge, introducing a new, unknown threat into the narrative.
Why This Matters
These chapters serve as the true inciting incident of the novel's central mystery, moving beyond the initial shock of the murder to establish the core questions that will drive the plot: Who sent the threatening photo? Who does the third set of DNA belong to? And can Adam's story be trusted? The stakes are dramatically raised from a murder trial to a capital case.
The introduction of crucial evidence—the pregnancy, the Rohypnol, the extra DNA, and the threatening note—simultaneously provides Sarah with avenues for reasonable doubt while also supplying the prosecution with a powerful motive for Adam. Furthermore, the flashback to Kelly's past fundamentally changes the reader's understanding of the victim and casts suspicion squarely on her husband, Scott. This section masterfully lays the groundwork for the legal battle and the parallel investigation that will define the rest of the book.
Key Quotes
"END IT OR I WILL."
This handwritten threat, found on the back of a photo of Adam and Kelly, marks the loss of secrecy and the imminent danger surrounding the affair. It is the first tangible proof that the affair was not a secret and that a third party held a violent grudge, introducing a new, unknown threat into the narrative.
"tonight I determined the ending."
Adam's note to Kelly, presented by Sarah during the interrogation, highlights how easily romantic words can be twisted into a confession. This quote underscores the precariousness of Adam's situation and the skill with which a prosecutor could manipulate his words to paint him as guilty.