All Chapters of THE BILLIONAIRE SECRET TWIN HEIR : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

"Nothing that matters." I stopped abruptly, turning to face him. "Is Miller telling the truth? Is he flipping on her?"Michael's expression darkened. "Daniel spoke with the prosecutor this morning. Miller's giving them everything—dates, account numbers, contacts. He claims it was all Jessica's idea from the beginning.""And was it?""Does it matter? They were both willing participants."People streamed past us, returning to the courtroom as the recess ended. In minutes, I'd have to go back in there, see my sister in handcuffs, possibly be called to testify."She brought up a promise we made to our mother." My voice sounded distant to my own ears. "Sisters forever, no matter what."Michael's hand found mine, his thumb tracing circles on my palm. "Your mother would never have expected you to stand by someone who hurt you so deliberately, Aria. Some bonds, once broken, can't be repaired."As we reentered the courtroom, Jessica's eyes locked with mine from the defendant's table. For a fle

The house fell quiet after I tucked the boys in, my fingers lingering on Austin's forehead just a moment longer than necessary. His breathing had already evened out, exhaustion claiming him after the emotional day we'd had. Alex had crashed twenty minutes earlier, clutching the small model airplane Michael had brought him.Michael.My stomach tightened at the thought of him waiting downstairs. He'd insisted on staying until the twins fell asleep, mentioning something important he needed to discuss. Now I had no more excuses.I closed their bedroom door with practiced quietness, the soft click of the latch making my heart jump. The hallway stretched before me like a path I wasn't ready to walk. Eight years of carefully constructed walls between us, and somehow he kept finding hairline cracks to slip through.The hardwood stairs creaked under my weight as I descended. Michael sat at my dining room table, spreadsheets and financial projections spread before him, sleeves rolled up to his

I slammed my laptop shut with enough force to make my coffee mug rattle. The headline glared from my phone screen like an accusation: "ARIA CAMPBELL: THE GOLD-DIGGING MOTHER WHO HID BILLIONAIRE HEIRS."My hands trembled as I scrolled through the article. Every humiliating detail of my marriage to Michael, our fertility struggles, the divorce—all splashed across the screen for public consumption. There were even photos of the boys leaving school yesterday.My stomach churned. Someone had been following my children.The phone rang, Samantha's name flashing on the screen."Tell me you haven't seen it," I said by way of greeting."I've seen it," Sam's voice was tight with anger. "It's everywhere, Aria. That bitch."Jessica. It had to be. The article quoted "sources close to the Walton family" describing me as a calculating manipulator who had deliberately gotten pregnant to secure my financial future."She's supposed to be in jail awaiting trial," I hissed, pacing my kitchen. "How is she

I wrapped my hands around the warm mug, anchoring myself. "Go on.""About six months before that day, Jessica started working with Miller to plant doubts about you." He couldn't meet my eyes. "Fabricated emails suggesting you were unfaithful, conversations that never happened, meetings you supposedly had with an ex."The kitchen seemed to tilt around me. "What?""I didn't believe it at first. But she was... persistent. And my mother—" he grimaced, "—was all too happy to fan those flames."I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach. "You thought I was cheating on you?""I was confused. The evidence seemed real. And with the pressure from my family about an heir, our fertility struggles..." His voice cracked. "I was in a dark place, Aria. But that doesn't excuse what I did. Nothing could."I stood abruptly, the stool scraping against the floor. "Eight years, Michael. Eight years of my life spent thinking I wasn't enough for you, that your family's obsession with an heir drove you to my

"Michael," she nodded to her son before turning to me. "Aria. I'm surprised to see you here.""I was invited," I replied evenly. "As was our company."Her lips thinned at the word "our," her gaze flicking between Michael and me."Where are my grandsons?" she asked, changing tactics."With Father at the dessert table," Michael answered. "Mother, may I have a word with you? In private?"Elizabeth's perfectly penciled eyebrows rose a fraction. "Of course, dear."As they stepped away, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. Eight years had done nothing to diminish Elizabeth Walton's ability to make a room feel ten degrees colder with her presence.I made my way to our assigned table, needing a moment to collect myself. To my surprise, Marcus was already seated there, looking uncomfortable in his formal wear."Aria," he greeted me with genuine warmth. "It's good to see you.""You too, Marcus." I sat beside him, grateful for a friendly face. "How are you holding up with all the