Sarah Morgan grapples with shocking revelations in the latest developments of the Kelly Summers murder case, as her personal and professional lives become increasingly intertwined. New evidence surfaces, revealing hidden identities and dark secrets that threaten to derail the prosecution's case against her husband, Adam Morgan. As Sarah navigates treacherous family dynamics and unraveling truths, she must confront her own doubts and make strategic decisions to protect her client, even if it means enduring personal attacks.
Chapter 21: Jenna Way
Sarah meets with her assistant, Anne, to discuss the latest bombshells in the Kelly Summers case. The police found three sets of DNA inside Kelly: one belonging to Adam, one to her husband Scott Summers, and one unknown. This, along with the threatening note and photo Adam received, suggests a third man and complicates the seemingly straightforward case. Sarah also admits that Sheriff Ryan Stevens's behavior feels like flirting, adding another layer of complexity to her already strained situation.
The chapter culminates in a stunning revelation: Anne's background check reveals that "Kelly Summers" is an alias. Her real name is Jenna Way, and she was the primary suspect in her first husband's murder, who was stabbed to death. The charges were dismissed when key evidence went missing during the trial. Even more shockingly, Scott Summers was one of the arresting officers on that case, creating a dark and complicated connection between Kelly's past and present.
Chapter 22: Mother-in-Law-Zilla
From jail, Adam receives a visit from his mother, Eleanor, who is dressed in black and acting as if she's attending his funeral. Eleanor is critical and controlling, blaming Sarah for Adam's affair, claiming that if Sarah had been a more attentive wife and hadn't "deprived" Adam of fatherhood, he never would have strayed. This conversation highlights the theme of The Façade of a Perfect Marriage, as Eleanor's vision of success is starkly different from Sarah's.
Sarah arrives unexpectedly, annoyed that Eleanor has bypassed visitation rules. She informs Adam that the D.A. is officially charging him with murder. Eleanor immediately takes charge, dismissing Sarah's role and insisting on hiring the "best attorney money can buy." As visiting hours end, Eleanor demands that Sarah join her for dinner to "discuss next steps," a demand Sarah cannot refuse.
Chapter 23: Pineapple & Pearls
Sarah and Eleanor have dinner at Pineapple & Pearls, a restaurant with a fixed menu chosen by Eleanor, symbolizing her need for Power, Control, and Manipulation. The dinner quickly devolves into a verbal assault, with Eleanor directly blaming Sarah for Adam's infidelity, stating, "husbands don’t typically cheat on loving wives." She cruelly brings up Sarah's traumatic past—her father's death and her mother's drug addiction—and accuses her of being addicted to her work.
Sarah maintains her composure, understanding that arguing with Eleanor is futile and will only harm Adam's case. Recognizing she needs to placate her mother-in-law to move forward, Sarah makes a strategic decision. She feigns agreement, telling Eleanor, "You’re right... I should have been a better wife to Adam." She promises to do better and ensure Adam gets the justice he deserves. This satisfies Eleanor, allowing them to finish the meal.
Chapter 24: What Are You Talking About?
Back in his cell, Adam is surprised by another visitor: Scott Summers. Scott insists he just wants to talk and understand what happened. Adam, remembering Kelly's stories, immediately accuses Scott of being abusive. Scott vehemently denies ever hurting Kelly, except for one accidental incident. He explains that Kelly used to make similar accusations of abuse against her first husband when she reported him to Scott in his capacity as a police officer in Wisconsin. This revelation forces Adam to confront the possibility that Kelly was a manipulative liar, highlighting the theme of Betrayal and Deception.
Scott claims he never held her past over her head and that they left that chapter behind when they moved. He also provides an alibi for the night of the murder, stating he was with his partner, Marcus. Just as their tense conversation peaks, Sarah bursts in with Anne and a man Adam recognizes as Matthew, Sarah's old friend from law school. Sarah is furious that Adam spoke to a potential suspect without her present.
In the ensuing argument, Sarah confronts Adam about withholding the fact that he knew Kelly's real name was Jenna Way and that she had killed her first husband. Adam's excuse that it "slipped his mind" only deepens the rift between them. Sarah then lays out the grim reality of his situation: he can plead guilty and receive a sentence of 25 years without parole, or plead not guilty and risk the death penalty. Despite the stakes, Adam insists, "I didn’t fucking do this," and chooses to plead not guilty.
Chapter 25: It Suits Him
Sarah, Anne, and Matthew gather at a coffee shop to strategize before Adam's arraignment. Matthew questions the wisdom of pleading not guilty when the death penalty is on the table, but Sarah firmly states that it is her client's decision. She vents about her dinner with Eleanor, and they all agree on how awful she is.
The focus shifts to building Adam's defense. Sarah outlines her strategy: to create reasonable doubt by exposing Kelly's dark and mysterious past. She believes Kelly's history provides a host of potential suspects who may have wanted her dead, linking to the theme of Revenge and Justice.
Sarah tasks Anne with subpoenaing witnesses, including Sheriff Stevens, Scott Summers, and Scott's partner, Deputy Hudson. She also wants to find a relative of Kelly's first husband who might hold a grudge. Crucially, she plans to get Kelly's phone records to identify the owner of the third set of DNA. Matthew, revealing he has useful connections, offers to acquire the phone records for her. The chapter ends with Sarah and Anne heading to the courthouse, their legal battle plan firmly in place.
Key Events
- Kelly's True Identity Revealed: Sarah learns Kelly Summers's real name is Jenna Way and that she was charged with murdering her first husband.
- Scott Summers's Connection: It's discovered that Scott was the arresting officer in Kelly's first husband's murder case, and the charges were dropped due to missing evidence.
- Eleanor Morgan's Interference: Adam's mother arrives and immediately clashes with Sarah, blaming her for the affair and attempting to take control of the legal defense.
- Scott and Adam's Confrontation: Scott visits Adam in jail, denying he ever abused Kelly and suggesting she was a habitual liar who manipulated them both.
- Adam's Plea: Faced with the choice between a life sentence and the death penalty, Adam decides to plead not guilty to the murder charges.
- Sarah's Legal Strategy: Sarah and her team decide to build their defense around creating reasonable doubt by investigating Kelly's past and identifying alternative suspects.
Character Development
| Character | Development in Chapters 21-25 |
|---|---|
| Sarah Morgan | Sarah demonstrates immense professional resilience, compartmentalizing her personal pain to build a defense for her cheating husband. Her interactions with Eleanor show her strategic thinking, while her anger at Adam reveals the deep cracks in her composure. |
| Adam Morgan | Adam is forced to confront the lies he was told by Kelly. His conversation with Scott shatters his perception of his mistress, revealing his own naivete and making him question everything. His decision to plead not guilty shows a flicker of defiance in his otherwise desperate situation. |
| Kelly Summers (posthumously) | Kelly's character is completely transformed from a simple victim into a complex and manipulative figure. The revelations about her real name, her first husband's murder, and her lies to both Adam and Scott redefine the entire case. |
| Scott Summers | Scott evolves from a one-dimensional, potentially abusive husband into a more sympathetic character. His claims suggest he was also a victim of Kelly's deception, making him a less likely suspect and a more complex figure in the mystery. |
| Eleanor Morgan | Introduced as a formidable antagonist, Eleanor is manipulative, cruel, and controlling. She serves as a major source of conflict for Sarah, adding a layer of intense personal drama to the legal proceedings. |
Themes & Symbols
- Betrayal and Deception: This theme expands beyond Adam's infidelity. Kelly's entire life is revealed to be built on lies—a false name, a hidden past, and manipulative stories she told to both her husband and her lover. Adam's decision to withhold information from Sarah, his lawyer and wife, is another layer of deception that jeopardizes his own defense.
- The Façade of a Perfect Marriage: The concept is explored through multiple relationships. Sarah and Adam's marriage is publicly shattered. Kelly and Scott's marriage, which Kelly painted as abusive, is revealed to be something else entirely. Eleanor's overbearing nature hints at the dysfunctional dynamics within the Morgan family itself, which were likely hidden behind a veneer of wealth and success.
- Power, Control, and Manipulation: Eleanor's attempts to dominate Sarah and control Adam's defense are a clear example of this theme. However, the most significant manipulator is revealed to be Kelly, who expertly played Adam and Scott against each other by feeding them contradictory stories to gain sympathy and control.
Key Quotes
"husbands don’t typically cheat on loving wives."
Eleanor's cruel statement encapsulates her belief that Sarah is to blame for Adam's infidelity. This quote highlights the judgmental and unforgiving nature of Eleanor's character, and it underscores the theme of The Façade of a Perfect Marriage by suggesting that outward appearances are more important than genuine connection. It also reveals her traditional, and somewhat outdated, views on marriage and gender roles.
"I didn’t fucking do this."
Adam's adamant denial, despite the overwhelming evidence against him, is a pivotal moment. This quote signifies his unwavering insistence on his innocence, even when faced with the possibility of the death penalty. It also sets the stage for Sarah's defense strategy, which hinges on creating reasonable doubt and proving that someone else had a motive to kill Kelly.
Significance
These chapters represent a major turning point in the novel. The central mystery shifts from a straightforward "whodunit" focused on Adam to a much more complex investigation into Kelly's past. The revelation that Kelly was a potential murderer and a master manipulator opens the door to a wide range of new suspects and motives, providing Sarah with the foundation for her "reasonable doubt" strategy.
Furthermore, the introduction of Adam's mother, Eleanor, adds a significant personal antagonist for Sarah. This subplot intensifies the emotional stakes, forcing Sarah to battle not only the prosecution but also her own family. The confrontation between Adam and Scott is also crucial, as it dismantles the reader's (and Adam's) assumptions about the victim and her husband, recasting the entire narrative.