Se connecterOUTSIDE THE COURTROOM ~ 5:00PmElena swallowed hard, her eyes filling with guilt. “Yes. I’m carrying his child.”Ariana took a step backward as if the words had physically pushed her away. She stared at Elena in complete shock, struggling to process everything at once. “No… No, this can’t be true. You were working for Daniel all along?”“Elena, please—”“You were his lawyer?” Ariana’s voice rose as tears filled her eyes. “You were supposed to be fighting for me, but you were secretly working for the man who was trying to take my son away from me?”Elena lowered her head. “Ariana, I know how this looks.”“How it looks?” Ariana let out a shaky laugh, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. “You’re pregnant with Daniel’s baby! You were his lawyer, you were his lover, and you stood beside me in that courtroom pretending you were on my side!”Elena stepped closer. “I was on your side today.”Ariana immediately stepped back, her face filled with hurt. “Today? What about before today? Ho
The officer wrote down her name and moved to the next question. “Date of birth?”Gabriella gave it reluctantly, clearly irritated that she had to answer such basic questions.The officer continued. “Any medical conditions?”Gabriella rolled her eyes. “Yes. I’m pregnant. Four months pregnant. And I’m surrounded by incompetence.”The officer ignored the insult and continued filling out the form. “We’ll do a full medical evaluation later. Now, take off your clothes.”Gabriella’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”“You heard me. Strip. Full-body search. Standard procedure.”Gabriella immediately crossed her arms over her chest. “Absolutely not. I am not taking my clothes off in front of you people.”The officer stood and walked around the desk. “You don’t have a choice. You can do it yourself, or we can assist you.”Gabriella looked toward the other officers in the room. There were three of them. All women. All large. All staring at her with the kind of expression that made it clear they were not
Daniel sat down while His face was red with rage.Judge Holloway turned back to Ariana. "Ms. Flores, I have reviewed your employment records. Your former employer at the New York Times testified that you were a dedicated, hardworking, and responsible reporter. You were never late. You never missed a deadline. You were never under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You were a model employee."Ariana's eyes filled with tears.Judge Holloway continued. "I have also reviewed testimony from your neighbors and friends. They all describe you as a loving, devoted mother. They all say you would do anything for your son."She paused. Her voice softened. "Ms. Flores, you are not a drug addict. You are not careless. You are not an unfit mother. You are a victim of a cruel and calculated scheme orchestrated by your ex-husband."Ariana sobbed. She covered her mouth.Judge Holloway's voice was firm again. "Therefore, I am granting permanent custody of Aiden Blackwood to his mother, Ariana Flores."T
Gabriella ran across the tarmac, her bare feet slapping against the cold concrete. Her lungs burned, and her legs were beginning to ache, but she refused to stop. She had to get away before the police caught her.Ahead, she spotted another private jet. It was smaller than the one she had arrived in, and she had no idea who owned it. She didn’t care. All she needed was a way out.When she reached the jet, she saw that the stairs were already down. The engines were off, and a man in a suit stood near the bottom of the stairs, talking on his phone.Gabriella didn’t hesitate. She shoved him hard.The man stumbled backward and fell onto the tarmac, his phone flying from his hand. “Hey! What the hell are you doing?” he shouted.Gabriella ignored him and rushed up the stairs. She burst into the cabin and headed straight for the cockpit.The pilot, a middle-aged man with gray hair, turned around with a confused look on his face. “Start the plane!” Gabriella screamed. “Start it now!”The pilot
Judge Holloway interrupted. “No, Ms. Castillo. I have already given her a warning. I will not allow this courtroom to turn into a fight.”One of the officers pulled out a pair of handcuffs and stepped toward Ariana. Ariana immediately shook her head. “You’re seriously going to handcuff me because that liar provoked me?”Judge Holloway gave her a firm look. “I am handcuffing you because you attacked a witness in my courtroom. I warned you to control yourself, and you ignored me.”Ariana clenched her fists, fighting back more tears. “But he lied about me!”“And you will have the opportunity to prove that through your lawyer,” Judge Holloway replied firmly. “You will not prove it with your fists.”Ariana remained silent, but her eyes stayed fixed on Marco.Marco gave her another small, mocking smile.Elena noticed it immediately and turned toward him. “Stop smiling, you pathetic idiot, before I give the judge another reason to remove someone from this courtroom.”Marco’s smile disappeare
Elena noticed it the amused expression in his eyes too. She leaned toward Ariana and quietly warned, “Ariana, sit down. Whatever he is planning, don’t give him exactly the reaction he wants.”Ariana slowly sat back, but she kept staring at Marco.Judge Holloway looked at Marco. “Mr. Rivera, you may answer when counsel questions you. Until then, remain silent.”Marco nodded.Mr. Sterling turned toward him with a faint smile.“Mr. Rivera, let’s begin.”Mr. Sterling turned toward Marco. “Mr. Rivera, are you and Ms. Flores still in a relationship?”Marco leaned back slightly in the witness chair and glanced at Ariana. There was no warmth in his eyes anymore. His expression was cold, almost amused.“No. We are not.”Ariana stared at him. “Marco, what are you doing?”Marco ignored her.Mr. Sterling nodded. “When did the relationship end?”“Recently,” Marco replied. “I broke up with her after I discovered the kind of woman she really is.”Ariana’s face tightened. “What the hell is that suppos
AMELIA STONE OFFICE ~ STONE INDUSTRIES The door to Amelia’s office opened without a sound. Nicholas Hale stepped in, closing it behind him with a soft click. The room seemed to shift, charged with something unspoken.Amelia stayed in her chair, leaning back with calm, controlled ease. Her usual CE
ALEJANDRO MASTER BEDROOM ~ NEW YORK The phone had been buzzing nonstop.Alejandro walked into the master bedroom, holding it up. “Mi reina, your phone has been ringing non-stop.”Amelia pushed herself up against the pillows, exhausted. “My phone? Are you serious? I thought I had it with me all alo
ALEXANDER MANSION~ NEW YORKAlexander Blackwood stormed through the marble halls of his mansion, his anger practically vibrating through his steps. The maids and staff froze as he passed, their whispers trailing behind him. He reached the Master bedroom, flinging the door open.“Vivian!” he shoute
BLACKWOOD INDUSTRIES ~ NEW YORK Katherina slipped Nicholas Hale’s card into her folder and closed it.Control. That was the word. And that was what she needed to hold on to.She straightened her blazer, smoothed her face, and returned to her desk as if nothing had happened. As if the air in the ro







