AUTHOR'S POV
Katerina swallowed, she was still being used to the fact that she was staying under the same roof with Lucas and that he knew about the triplets.Heaving a deep sigh, she nodded, “Yes, she's asleep. I read her a story a while ago and put her to sleep. She loves bedtime stories, fairy tales kind of.” Katerina explained, a big smile spreading across her face. A conversation about her daughter always brought a smile to her face and her eyes sparkled, happy, proud.Lucas watched Katerina in admiration, a smile finding its way on his face too. His mind travelled back to their first encounter. It was a memory to behold. A memory that he would cherish for the rest of his life. The memory that he’ll carry to his after death and next life.God, it still felt like a dream.He remembered how Arabella couldn't leave his side. How they had an evening nap together and he couldn't stop staring at her as she slept calmly in his arms. It felt so good to hold her, kiAUTHOR'S POVAll eyes at the table followed David's hand. There was something about how he looked at Katerina. As though all the world around them had disappeared, leaving only the two of them.His eyes were soft, holding the warmth that he only preserved for her. Kate’s lips curved into a sweet smile. She knew that she could always count on David and she was glad to have him in her life.“Thank you,” She whispered, her voice low and full of unspoken emotions. The people at the table exchanged looks but no one said a word.“I think we should celebrate the win.” Lucas’s voice cut through the air, pulling everyone's mind back to the present. If someone looked closely in those blue eyes, unexplainable emotions crossed in them when he stared at David's gentle hand on Katerina's. The emotion was too quick, hard to catch. Lucas knew damn well that he didn't have the right to feel that way. However, he couldn't help it.“Yeah, let's celebrate the win against Stephanie Martinez.” Katerina sa
KATERINA Soft voices and laughter filled the air inside the dining hall. The sweet aroma waffled in the air and wine glasses were filled with the amber liquid.We're back at the big house where we had been staying for the past three days. I looked around the table, my lips curving into a smile. Everyone looked happy and more relaxed compared to how stressful they looked in the morning.Heaving a sigh, I reached for the glass of wine. I couldn't remember when was the last time it felt this good to have dinner. My mind was calm. My soul too. I hadn't felt this way for the longest time.I used the fork to tap on the glass of wine, capturing everyone's attention as they turned their eyes on me.“Sorry for the distraction.” I apologised, darting my eyes around the table and they nodded in silent understanding.“First of all, I would like to thank all of you for sticking around throughout the court hearing. It was…long, tiring-kinda of boring.” I joked.“It was kinda fun to watch Stephanie
KATERINA Silence fell over the court room, the air thick with tension and unspoken fear. All eyes were on the judge who was arranging the papers, as though making sure she didn't miss any piece. She looked relaxed, as though there wasn't anything to worry about. I looked at her face, searching for the slightest sign of what was about to come but…her face didn't give anything away.My heart was in throughout, the unsettling feeling growing at the tip of my stomach with each passing second. As though the people sitting around me sensed my uneasiness, they reached for my sweaty hands. David and Lucas, I cling on their hands tightly as though my dear life depended on it.The judge cleared her throat, making me sick in a tight air. Slowly, she raised her head to look at the people present in the courtroom, darting her eyes around as though confirming if both sides were present before she could read the ruling.“The court has listened to all the witnesses and gone through the evidence pres
KATERINA “Lucas Thompson, you're here to testify and you have sworn to the court that you’ll only say the truth.” He nodded confidently.“Can you explain to the court why you changed your mind? During the preliminary hearing, you were on the defendant's side. Did Mrs Katerina Mackenzie convince you to side with her?” The corner of my lips curved into a smile, finding amusement in the question.I might not be perfect, however, forcing someone to do something against their will wasn't one of those imperfections.“ I made the decision myself, in my right mind, without anyone's influence. I’m old enough to make my own decisions without anyone telling me what to do. Kate didn't force me to do anything” He turned his head to look at me and I flashed him a smile, giving David's hand a little squeeze.I have never been the kind that would force someone to do what they didn't want to. I believed in the entitlement of one’s decision and opinions. No matter how much it hurt sometimes, I always
KATERINA It was silent inside the courtroom. I could feel my heart drumming in my ear, nervous. It felt as though time was moving in slow motion. Slowly, I raised my head to check the time on the old-fashioned clock in the courtroom and noticed it was ten minutes until the hearing began.The time didn't help me feel any better, it was 7:50am and the hearing would begin exactly at 8:00am. All the parties were present, ready for the court’s proceeding. I momentarily turned my head towards the other party, Stephanie Mackenzie, the last name she would likely drop today.That is if the court rules in our favour. Unlike the last time, she had this look on her face which I couldn't quite wrap my head around. She looked nervous, but she was doing a good job at hiding it behind that fake smile. She looked a little thinner than the last time I saw her. As if she hasn't been eating healthy lately or- maybe she had been drinking too much that she was supposed to.A tingle of silver tugged on my
KATERINA THREE DAYS LATER Staring at my reflection in the vanity mirror, a deep breath escaped my lips. A breath that I had been holding onto for the past three days. I could feel that unsettling feeling at the tip of my stomach. The day that we all have been waiting for was finally here. However, we didn't know what was waiting ahead of us. For a second, I wished I could be a fortune teller so that… My mind jolted back to the present when a soft knock on the door cut through the quiet air. Blowing a breath, I granted whoever was knocking the permission to enter. The door clicked open and David walked in. He was wearing a black tuxedo from our latest collection which was launched a few days ago. His hair was brushed away from the face and his grey eyes were bright. His lips curled up into a smile as he swept his eyes over me, and I couldn't help but smile back, nervous. Just like he promised, he was here to support me. “You look beautiful,” He complimented. I was wearing an o