Chapter 30: The Aftermath

POV: Selene Castellano

The depositions were over.

Selene was sitting in the penthouse library the next morning, staring at nothing while the words kept replaying in her head. I LOVE YOU

Avalon had said he loves her under oath, in a deposition designed to prove their marriage was fake.

He had said it and meant it.

Her phone buzzed.

Maya.

How’d it go?

Selene didn’t know how to answer that.

He told me he loves me.

Three dots appeared, disappeared then appeared again.

WHAT? When? How? DETAILS LENA.

Yesterday at the deposition. He admitted it to Sullivan before he told me.

That’s so Avalon, he is emotionally constipated until legally required to share his feelings.

Selene smiled sheepishly, despite everything, he still loves me, Maya.

How are you feeling?

I’m terrified, happy and waiting for the other shoe to drop.

There is no other shoe Selene. He loves and you love him that is all that matters.

The judge still has to rule you know? And Marcus could still win.

He won’t. You guys told the truth, I am sure that is what counts.

Selene wanted to believe that.

She heard footsteps behind her. Avalon stood in the doorway, coffee in hand, looking very exhausted.

“Morning,” he said.

“Morning.”

He walked towards her and sat right beside her, close enough that she could smell him….his mahogany and oud fragrance.

“ Maya texted me today,” Selene said. “I told her about—yesterday, I hope you don't mind?”

“No, I don't, what did she say by the way?”

“She said you’re emotionally constipated.”

Avalon smiled. “She’s not wrong now, is she?

Silence settled between them. Not the uncomfortable silence, it was just —full contentment silence.

“Are you okay?” Selene asked finally. “After everything Sullivan put you through?”

“I don’t know. I feel like I’ve been turned inside out.”

“You were incredible on both days. You were so honest it hurt to watch.”

“Honest because I didn’t have a choice. He backed me into corners until the only way out was the truth.”

Selene reached for his hand. “You could have lied, put up a performance, yet, you chose not to.”

“ That was because lying would have meant losing us and I’m not doing that again.”

The words settled over her like warmth.

“Diana called this morning,” Avalon continued. “The transcripts go to the judge next week and we have to wait two to three weeks for her ruling.”

“And if she rules against us?”

“Then we appeal or find another way. But Selene—” he turned to face her fully, “—whatever happens with the lawsuit, with Marcus, with all of it. What I said yesterday stands. I love you and that  doesn’t change based on a judge’s opinion.”

Selene felt tears burning. “I’ve waited so long to hear you say that.”

“I know, I am so sorry it took a deposition to get me there.”

“I don’t care how it happened, I am just glad that it did.”

She leaned against him as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

They sat like that all morning as the morning light streamed through the windows and the city woke below them.

“What do we do now?” Selene asked. “While we wait?”

“We keep living not just existing, we keep going to therapy, choosing each other and we stop letting Marcus and the lawsuit define us.”

“That simple?”

“That is complicate, but yeah.”

Selene’s phone buzzed again. This time, an unknown number.

She ignored at first but her intuition kept nudging her to pick.

“Hello?”

“Hi Selene, this is Catherine.”

Selene sat up straight. Avalon noticed immediately and tensed.

“Catherine, ehmmm, I—why are you calling?”

“I heard about the depositions and what Avalon said. I also wanted to—” Catherine paused, seemed to be choosing words carefully. “I wanted to apologizes again, for everything I did ten years ago, the pain I caused both of you.”

“You already apologised at the hotel.”

“I know, but hearing what my son went through defending a marriage I tried to destroy—I just needed to say it again and you were right, what I did was really unforgivable.”

Selene didn’t know what to say to that.

“I am in therapy,” Catherine continued. “Real therapy through why I’ve spent my life controlling everyone around me. My therapist says I need to make amends to the people I’ve hurt most and you both are at the top of that list.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“I don’t want you to say anything. I just wanted you to know—I’m trying to be better, to be the kind of mother Avalon deserves even if he never lets me back into his life.”

“Catherine—”

“I have to go now, but Selene? Thank you for loving my son, for fighting for him and for being the person I should have welcomed instead of threatened.”

The line went dead.

Selene set down her phone slowly.

“That was my mother,” Avalon said. It wasn’t a question.

“Yes.”

“What did she want?”

“To apologise again. She also mentioned that she’s in therapy.”

Avalon’s expression was unreadable. “Do you believe her?”

“Sincerely, I don’t know. Maybe. She sounded—different.”

“Different doesn’t erase what she did.”

“No. But it could be a start.”

Avalon was quiet for a long moment. “I’m not ready to talk to her and I might never want to”

“I know and that’s okay.”

“Is it? Because she’s your mother-in-law and at some point—”

“At that point we’ll deal with it, but not today. Today we just—be.”

Avalon pulled her closer. “I like that plan.”

The days that followed found a rhythm.

Avalon goes to work while Selene worked on her nonprofit consulting. They have dinner together most nights and go to therapy twice a week—once together, once separately.

They also talked, about everything,  Elena, fear, grief, the ten years apart and hope about loving each other when everything had tried to keep them apart.

Margaret called during the week.

“Hello!!! How are my favourite couple doing? I am just checking in. How are you both holding up?”

“We’re okay,” Avalon said, phone on speaker so Selene could hear. “Waiting is harder than I expected.”

“Waiting is always harder but you did well. Both of you, I’ve seen the transcripts. You both were honest, vulnerable, real and that's our best defense.”

“And if it’s not enough?”

“Then Marcus gets a Pyrrhic victory. He might get the inheritance, but he’ll lose the company. The board won’t follow him after this, they've seen who he really is.”

After she hung up, Selene looked at Avalon. “Would it be okay If we lost the inheritance?”

“Truthfully, I don’t know. That’s Pierce Holdings, everything Nene built and all I’ve protected for ten years.”

“But would we be okay?”

Avalon thought about that. “Yeah. We’d be okay. I have Nexus and I have enough money. We will survive.”

“More than survive?”

“Yeah. More than that.”

Selene felt something release in her chest. She confirmed the inheritance mattered, but it wasn’t everything they were.

Two weeks after the depositions, Diana called.

“The judge is ready. Ruling comes down Friday at ten AM.”

Selene’s stomach dropped. “That’s in two days.”

“I know. Can you both be at my office by nine? We’ll review what to expect, then head over to the courthouse.”

After the call ended, Selene and Avalon sat in silence.

“Friday,” she said.

“Friday.”

“Are you scared?”

“Terrified.”

“Me too.”

Avalon pulled her into his arms. “Whatever happens, we’re in this together.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

They spent the next two days in a strange limbo they acted like they were working but achieving nothing, eating but tasting nothing and sleeping but not resting.

Thursday night, Selene couldn’t sleep at all. She lay beside Avalon, listening to him breathe, knowing he wasn’t asleep either.

“Avalon?”

“Yeah?”

“Tomorrow—if we lose—”

“We’re not losing.”

“But if we do. If Marcus wins and we lose everything, would you still want this? Us?”

He rolled toward her in the darkness. “Yes, without question. The inheritance brought us together, but, it is not what is keeping me. You are.”

“Even if I cost you eight hundred million dollars?”

“Even then. You’re worth more than any inheritance.”

Selene’s throat tightened. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

They held each other in the dark, gathering strength for tomorrow’s ruling that would decide whether their truth and love is enough.

Tomorrow they’d find out but tonight they’ll  just hold on to each other and hope.

Friday morning arrived gray and cold.

Selene dressed carefully—navy suit, minimal jewelry, her hair pulled back, like armour for a battle.

Avalon wore the same suit he’d worn to the depositions.

They drove to Diana’s office in silence.

Margaret was already there, Robert Chen beside her and Diana had coffee waiting.

“Ready?” Diana asked.

“No,” Avalon said. “But let’s do it anyway.”

They reviewed what would happen. The judge would read her decision, and there might be a brief statement. Then it would be over.

At nine-thirty, they headed to the courthouse.

Marcus was already there standing with Sullivan, looking confident.

Too confident.

Selene’s hands were shaking, Avalon found them and held tight.

“Whatever happens,” he whispered.

“Whatever happens.”

The courtroom doors opened and Judge Marice emerged.

“All rise.”

They stood.

The judge sat and opened a folder.

“I’ve reviewed the depositions, evidence, and arguments from both parties. So, I’m prepared to issue my ruling.”

Selene couldn’t breathe.

This was it.

Everything they’d fought for came down to this moment.

Judge Marice looked up.

Met Avalon’s eyes.

Then Selene’s.

And began to read.