LOGINWhy do you think Nathaniel stepped down from the case? 🤔 And why do you think he wants to speak with Claire? Please support my story with gems 💎 and tell me your thoughts in the comments 😚
For a heartbeat, I barely recognized him. The man walking toward the witness stand bore little resemblance to the polished fertility specialist from more than a year ago. Back then, he’d worn tailored Italian suits and carried himself with the effortless confidence of a doctor whose reputation preceded him. Today, his shoulders were slumped, the expensive confidence gone. There were deep shadows beneath his eyes, and his suit—though still expensive—hung loosely on a body that had clearly lost weight over the past few months. His medical license was gone. His career was dead. His reputation had been reduced to headlines and scandal. Dr. Ramon climbed into the witness stand with slow, measured movements, as though every step reminded him of exactly how far he’d fallen. The bailiff handed him the Bible. “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” “I swear.” He said, his fingers trembling against the bible. His voice was so quiet th
The courtroom settled into tense silence as everyone took their seats.I placed my files neatly on counsel’s table before looking toward the gallery.Lucian wasn’t here today.And although I knew he had to be absent, a small part of me still instinctively searched for him anyway. Then I reminded myself that he was exactly where he was supposed to be—in a hospital bed, hopefully listening to absolutely none of the news coverage and, for once, doing what his doctors told him.“Counsel, are you ready to proceed?” the judge asked.Jonathan rose first.“Yes, Your Honor.”Across the aisle, Eva’s attorneys stood as well.“We’re ready, Your Honor.”The judge nodded.“Very well. Ms. Moreau, you may continue.”I stood. “Thank you, Your Honor.”The courtroom became so quiet that I could hear the soft scratching of one juror’s pen.I walked toward the evidence monitor.“Yesterday, this court heard testimony concerning the financial theft perpetrated against Mr. Lucian Dhark and Dhark Holdings.”
The shrill buzz of my phone shattered the peaceful silence. I groaned without even needing to look at the screen. Lucian chuckled softly. “I suppose we’re back to reality.” “I’m afraid so.” I said, reaching across the bedside table and picking up my phone. I was quite surprised to see Tessa’s name across the screen. Usually, she would call Lucian— being his executive assistant. I answered immediately. “Good morning, Tessa.” “I certainly hope it is.” Her voice was as warm as ever, but I could already hear the amusement hidden beneath it. “The driver is downstairs.” She informed. I glanced toward Lucian, who just sighed dramatically. “Please remind Mr. Dhark that doctors were very clear.” Lucian rolled his eyes. “I’m coming.” “I’ll see you both shortly.” I ended the call, then slowly lowered my phone. Lucian looked quite entertained. “Are you embarrassed that people might know we spent the night together?” “I’m never embarrassed.” Lucian looked thorou
I woke to warmth. It wasn’t just the warmth of the morning sun slipping through the gap in my curtains. No, this was something steadier. Something that rose and fell against my back with slow, even breaths. For one blissful moment, I simply lay there, my eyes still closed, letting myself enjoy it. Then memory returned— Lucian. A smile found its way to my lips before I could stop it. I opened my eyes, slow and careful. The pale morning light spilled across my bedroom from the window. My apartment was quiet— the kind of quiet that only existed before the city fully woke. I shifted slightly, and felt Lucian’s arm tighten instinctively around my waist. I couldn’t help laughing under my breath. He was still asleep. It’d been too long since I had the chance to study him without him noticing. His dark hair was slightly messy, refusing to stay neatly in place. His jaw, usually so tense and composed, had relaxed completely. Even whilst asleep, he looked exhausted.
We lingered over dinner long after our plates were empty. Neither of us seemed particularly eager to end the evening. Outside, the city glowed beneath my apartment windows, bright headlights threading through the streets. Inside my apartment, everything felt warm and impossibly peaceful. Lucian swirled the remaining wine in his glass slowly. “You know,” I said, “I’ve been thinking a lot lately.” He raised a brow. “That’s always dangerous.” I smiled. “It usually is.” He waited patiently for me to speak. “I still don’t understand why we never had any children.” I felt my mouth go bitter as I spoke those words out loud. Lucian’s expression immediately turned serious, his fingers tightening slightly around his wine glass. I looked down for a moment before meeting his eyes again. “I mean the hospital couldn’t find anything wrong with either of us, so what was the problem?” For a long moment, neither of us spoke. That silence would have crushed me once. But t
By the time we stepped inside my apartment, the city already felt far away. The silence wrapped around us almost immediately. No cameras. No reporters. No lawyers. No judges. Just the soft hum of the refrigerator and the muffled sounds of traffic somewhere below my windows. I locked the door behind us and turned around to find Lucian standing in the middle of my living room, seemingly taking everything in. His gaze moved slowly over the bookshelves, the framed photographs, the stack of legal journals on the coffee table and the half-finished jigsaw puzzle Daniel had insisted we start weeks ago. “What?” I asked, smiling. He shook his head. “I forgot how much this place feels like you.”I laughed as I set my handbag on the console table. “You said that downstairs.” “I meant it.” Lucian said as he walked over to the bookshelf and ran his fingers lightly across one of the frames. “You’ve made this place into a home.” He said. I shrugged. “I tried.” He looked







