Chapter: CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHT_ CLAIRE’S POVThe judge immediately struck his gavel. “Order!” I remained standing, completely still. For a moment, I couldn’t hear anything except the pounding of my own heart. Then I continued the questioning. “Did Eva want us dead?” Hart’s expression was grim. “She wanted you out of her way.” “That’s not my question.” He swallowed. “Yes, ma’am. She wanted you dead.” I closed my eyes for half a second, then opened them again. “And you carried out her instructions?” “Yes.” I looked down at my notes. There were still more questions. But before I continued, I needed to establish something. “Mr. Sullivan,” I called. “Everything you’ve told this court so far—are you saying you were forced to do these things?” “No.” He answered immediately. “Are you saying Eva controlled every decision you made?” “No.” “Are you claiming you are innocent?” Once again, his answer came immediately. “No.” I looked at him carefully. “You shot and stabbed Lucian Dhark on different occ
آخر تحديث: 2026-09-24
Chapter: CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED AND SEVEN_CLAIRE’S POVI heard a few murmurs behind me. I ignored them. “What did Eva ask you to do for her?” Hart sat up straighter. “Things.” I sighed. He had been instructed not to give vague answers. “What things?” I asked. “Things she didn’t want connected to her.” I took one step closer. “Be specific, Mr. Sullivan.” He exhaled. “Threatening people.” The courtroom became even quieter—except for the sound of reporters typing away on their devices. “Anything else?” “Following people.” “Anything else?” “Sometimes destroying things.” I waited. Hart continued. “Making problems disappear.” I turned slightly toward the judge, then back to Hart. “And you did these things?” “Yes.” “Because she asked you to?” He shrugged. “Most of the time.” “Most?” He hesitated. “There were things I did because I wanted to.” That answer caught my attention—as well as everyone’s. We had planned to show the jury that Hart was a flawed man himself, not just Eva’s puppet—that wou
آخر تحديث: 2026-09-22
Chapter: CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED AND SIX_CLAIRE’S POVI rose to my feet shortly afterward. “Your Honor, the prosecution would like to call its next witness.” The courtroom quieted. Everyone knew who it was before I even said the name. At the very least, they suspected. “Hart Sullivan.” A murmur swept through the room. Reporters immediately began typing. Some people turned to look at Eva, while others started whispering among themselves. The judge struck his gavel. “Order!” Gradually, the room settled into silence again. I looked at Eva. For the first time since she’d entered the courtroom, something had changed in her expression. It was barely noticeable—a tightening of her jaw, a narrowing of her eyes—but it was there. Then the courtroom doors opened and Hart walked in with two officers. He looked different—not physically—but something about him had changed since the last time I saw him. Perhaps I expected him to appear nervous—he didn’t. His eyes weren’t searching for Eva. He simply walked forward.
آخر تحديث: 2026-09-21
Chapter: CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED AND FIVE_CLAIRE’S POV The courtroom filled up slowly. Lawyers moved between tables, court officers spoke quietly to one another, and reporters took their seats, already typing furiously on their gadgets. Margot and I were seated side by side, while Jonathan reviewed the documents spread across the table. I tried to focus—I really did. But somehow, my mind kept wandering. First to Hart, then to Eva. The phone, the messages, Hart’s warning. I didn’t realize when my fingers tightened around the edge of the file. “Stop.” I looked at Margot. “What?” “You’re doing it again.” “Doing what?” I asked, even though I knew exactly what she was speaking of. She rolled her eyes. “Thinking yourself into a headache.” I sighed in defeat, then sank deeper into the chair. “I can’t help it.” “You can.” She tapped the file in front of me.We have evidence. We have our key witness—Hart. We have the digital records. You need to trust the work we’ve done.” I nodded. “I do.” “Then breathe.” I i
آخر تحديث: 2026-09-20
Chapter: CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED AND FOUR_CLAIRE’S POV I woke before my alarm. For several seconds, I remained completely still, staring at the ceiling. Then I remembered what day it was. The trial was starting again. After two weeks of waiting, preparing and wondering what Eva Sterling would do next, we were finally going back into that courtroom. I sat up very slowly. My hand instinctively moved to my stomach—a new habit. There was nothing to feel yet—no movement, no bump, nothing that would tell the world that my entire life had changed. But I knew that there was a tiny life inside me. My baby. Our baby. A smile tugged at my lips before anxiety quickly swallowed it again. But then again, what reason did I have to be anxious? Hart Sullivan had agreed to cooperate. The phone he’d given Margot contained hundreds of messages between him and Eva, spanning across years. We now had more evidence than we had ever even imagined we could get our hands on.We had a witness who knew Eva better than almost anyone. An
آخر تحديث: 2026-09-19
Chapter: CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED AND THREE_EVA’S POV Hart was my last call. I knew that even before I dialed the prison. Perhaps that was why I stared at my phone for so long. Once, I had been able to call him and know everything would happen exactly the way I wanted. He listened. He obeyed. He never questioned me. Back then, Hart Sullivan would have given his life to protect me. Now everything was different. That bitch Margot Sinclair was messing with his head. I pressed the call button. It took a while before someone answered. “Eva?” Hart’s voice came from the other end of the line, rough and tired. I poured myself another glass of wine before going straight to the point. “Will you testify for me?” The silence that followed was gut-wrenchingly tight. Then he broke it with a bitter laugh. “No,” he spat. My heart sank. “What has happened to you, Hart?” I asked. “You didn’t even think about it.” “I don’t need to.” “You owe me!” I yelled before I could stop myself. “You owe me your life!” It was
آخر تحديث: 2026-09-19
Caught Between Two Billionaires
If you ask Olivia Marshall, she would tell you that being a billionaire's wife is not always as it seems, especially when your husband is toxic and abusive.
Olivia stays married to her first love, Sebastian Gilbert, through his abuse and infidelity for the sake of their daughter. All that changes when she hooks up with a stranger after discovering her husband's mistress.
To her greatest surprise, the stranger is no ordinary man. He is Desmond Wrightwood, a tech billionaire, and her husband's greatest rival. Desmond is charming, a good father figure and most importantly, madly in love with Olivia. What started as a one-night stand slowly blossoms into a love like nothing Olivia had ever experienced before. The new, passion filled relationship prompts Olivia to finally divorce Sebastian.
It is clear to Olivia that Desmond loves her and her daughter more than Sebastian ever did. But roses do not come without thorns. Olivia is shattered by a shocking discovery about the man who made her give love a second chance. Her hero, her daughter's new father figure, her Desmond. Olivia is terrible at letting go, but she cannot be with a man she distrusts.
Soon, Olivia suffers a great loss, leaving her shattered and depressed. Sebastian returns a changed man, begging for her forgiveness but Desmond refuses to leave her side. Olivia must choose between the man who hurt her for years, and the man who came into her life with deceit. The man she loved first and the man she loved last. To make it worse, she's choosing between brothers.
قراءة
Chapter: Public Knowledge Olivia woke with a slight headache. Shortly after Desmond’s speech, reporters had also swarmed her, screaming questions about Desmond's parentage. She called for room service, ordering a light breakfast for herself immediately after she got out of bed. Reckoning that she deserved some more rest, she sat on the couch and turned on the TV, ready for some downtime. The news channel showed a ginger reporter, eagerly reporting the events that occurred at the Gilbert Technology anniversary event. “The billionaire tech-mogul, Desmond Wrightwood, took to the stage last night at the Gilbert technology’s anniversary event, to announce to the public that he is the first son of Gerald Gilbert. Additionally, the billionaire mogul made shocking allegations against Priscilla Gilbert, wife of the late Gerald Gilbert and mother of Sebastian Gilbert, the current CEO of the Gilbert empire. The news came after Sebastian Gilbert publicly declared love for his ex-wife, Desmond's rumored girlfriend
آخر تحديث: 2025-07-18
Chapter: Gerald Gilbert’s Illegitimate Son The guests' confusion as they watched Desmond ascend the stage was obvious, but they applauded nonetheless. “Thank you.” Desmond spoke as the applause died down. "As you all know, I am Desmond Wrightwood, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Wrightwood Technologies. First, | would like to thank Sebastian Gilbet for the opportunity to speak freely at this event. He really is a brather from another mother. Quite literally, l must add.” Olivia and Sebastian, who were sitting among the audience, exchanged glances, knowing exactly what Desmond was playing at- “Gilbert Technologies inspires me, truly. In fact, for the first time in my career, I will publicy admit that Gilbert Technologies is the inspiration behind the creation af my company. Gerald Gilbert's vision for the future of technology is nothing short of revolutionary. I am proud to say he that he is more than just an inspiration to me.” Desmond paused, to check if he really had everyone’s undivided attention
آخر تحديث: 2025-07-17
Chapter: Sebastian’s Speech Halfway through the event, Sebastian appeared on stage to give a speech. Everyone in the hall paid close attention as he spoke of his father’s dedication to the future of technology, his personal mistakes, and pledged to further develop his grandfather’s vision of Gilbert Technologies. Everyone immediately started applauding, thinking that the powerful speech had come to an end. Several minutes later, the applause died down and Sebastian continued. “…And finally, I would like to thank the woman who made a man out of me. The love of my life; Olivia. You will always be my wife and my best friend. I love you.” The hall was audibly silent as the weight of his words hit everyone present. “Additionally, fifty percent of the net profit generated from this launch will be donated towards cancer research, in honor of my daughter, Laurel Gilbert. I love you, Laurel.” By the time he was done speaking, the hall was ablaze with applause. Jaws dropped and people exchanged co
آخر تحديث: 2025-07-17
Chapter: Jonathan Colbert Olivia watched, with her breath in her throat, as Desmond strides over to their table, with his confident grin perfectly in place. “Desmond!” Miranda Colbert called fondly. “Miranda.” He greeted, kissing her on both cheeks. “You look beautiful.” Olivia sneered. That was an obvious lie. “Desmond Wrightwood.” Jonathan Colbert greeted, shaking Desmond’s hand. “My favorite self-made billionaire. It’s great to see you.” “Always a pleasure, Mr Colbert.” Desmond grinned. He finally turned to Olivia expectantly, just to be immediately gripped in a hug by Laurel. “I have missed you!” Laurel declared as she clung onto Desmond. Olivia smiled as she wondered where the little girl’s shyness had gone. She was aware that all eyes in the room were on their table. Everyone wanted to get a glimpse of what her relationship with Desmond was like and why they were attending her ex-husband’s event. “I have missed you too, sweetheart.” Desmond said, lifting the little girl off her feet
آخر تحديث: 2025-07-17
Chapter: Gilbert Technologies Anniversary Event II Desmond stared outside the window as the car slowly made it’s way to De Rico hotels, where Billionaires, millionaires and many other important, influential people were to gathering to celebrate Gilbert Technologies' 60th anniversary. If things had happened differently, perhaps he would be at the hotel as a host, not a guest. But it was not to be, because his father's wife, in her jealousy, had ordered his mother's home to be destroyed by fire. He narrowly escaped with his life that evening and knew he had to flee as far as he could. It was only after he arrived in London that he heard news of his mother's suicide. Priscilla was responsible for the tragedy but unfortunately there was no proof. She was finally behind bars for another offence years later, but Desmond was not satisfied. "What are you thinking about?" Rob, who was sitting beside Desmond asked. Desmond had asked Rob to accompany him to the event and being the supportive best friend that he was, Rob agreed.
آخر تحديث: 2025-07-15
Chapter: Gilbert Technologies 60th Anniversary Olivia settled in the car beside Laurel. They were both dressed exquisitely for the anniversary event. The much anticipated day had finally come. “How do you feel, sweetheart?” Olivia asked Laurel. Laurel was adequately prepared for the event, with enough medication and a nurse who would tend to her medical needs. “I am okay. I want to see daddy.” Laurel said. Olivia adjusted the scarf wrapped around the little girl’s head. “You will see him tonight. In fact, Mr. Desmond is also going to be present tonight. Would you like that?” Laurel grinned. “I will like that very much, mummy.” The little girl rested her head on her mother’s arm. “Thank you, mummy.” “Why are you thanking me, darling?” Olivia asked. “For making me see daddy and Mr. Desmond again.” Laurel answered. Olivia smiled at her daughter. “I cannot take the credit for that, my love.” She spoke softly. “They returned because they wanted to see you. Your daddy and Mr. Desm
آخر تحديث: 2025-07-12
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