Lahat ng Kabanata ng Not His Wife Anymore: Kabanata 71 - Kabanata 80

The judge’s voice carried across the room. “Ms. Naya, please return to the stand.”Naya rose slowly. Her knees wobbled, but she straightened her shoulders. Zipper’s hand brushed against hers for a brief second under the table. “Naya, you’ve got this.”She walked to the stand, her heels clicking softly against the floor. The oath was repeated, the microphone adjusted.Adrian stood ready, his expression smooth, but she didn’t let herself look at him for long. Instead, she fixed her eyes on the jury. They had to hear her. Really hear her.Adrian gave a smug smile. “Ms. Naya, let’s talk about your marriage to my client. Would you say it was a happy one?”“No,” Naya said firmly.Her voice surprised her—it didn’t shake.Adrian arched his brow. “No?”She leaned forward slightly. “Daniel was cruel to me. Always.”A ripple went through the courtroom. Adrian smirked like he expected this. “Cruel is a strong word.”“It’s the right word,” Naya shot back. “He belittled me every day. Told me I wasn

A soft knock pulled Naya out of her thoughts. She glanced at the clock on the wall, it was past eleven. Too late for visitors.She padded to the door, pulling her nightgown tighter. “Who is it?”“It’s me,” Zipper’s voice came, muffled but recognizable.Her stomach flipped. She opened the door, frowning. “Do you know what time it is?”He held up a bottle of wine in one hand and a bag of chips in the other. “Snack delivery.”“You could’ve delivered them tomorrow,” she said, stepping back to let him in.“And miss the chance to see you in pajamas? No thanks.”She rolled her eyes but felt warmth crawl up her neck. The thin cotton of her nightgown suddenly felt much too thin. “They’re not pajamas. It’s a nightgown.”“Looks cozy,” he said, setting the wine on the table. His eyes lingered a second too long before he cleared his throat. “So. Midnight feast?”She sighed but found herself smiling. “Fine. But only because you brought chips.”They settled at the small table, the bottle open, two m

“You think they’ll drag this out?” Naya whispered.Her throat was dry, her palms damp against her knees. The courtroom buzzed with nervous chatter, but the judge had not yet returned. She sat beside Zipper, who seemed far too calm for the moment.“They might,” he said, adjusting his tie like he had all the time in the world. “But I don’t think so. The evidence is too strong.”She pressed her lips together. “Strong doesn’t always mean fair.”“You can breathe now,” Zipper said under his breath.Naya’s chest rose, but the air caught halfway. Her hands shook against her lap. “Not yet. Not until he says it.”The judge shuffled papers at the bench. Everyone fell silent. Reporters leaned forward. The wooden seats creaked as people held still.Zipper leaned closer, close enough that she could feel the heat of him beside her. “It’s already over. Trust me.”She nodded but didn’t answer. Her throat was tight.The judge cleared his throat. “After reviewing the evidence and testimony, this court f

Chloe's PovChloe slammed the apartment door harder than she meant to. The sound echoed through the glossy living room, making her jump. She didn’t care. Let the neighbors hear.Daniel was already pacing near the windows floor to ceiling window in the living room with his jacket off, tie loose, shirt rumpled in a way she’d never seen before. His hair stuck up from him running his hand through it a dozen times.He didn’t even look at her when he snapped, “That was a circus. A goddamn circus.”Chloe dropped her bag on the couch. “You left me there. You just walked out and left me with cameras in my face. Everyone saw it.”Daniel spun toward her, his face red. “You think I care about the cameras? My company is bleeding. Investigators are breathing down my neck, the press is digging through my accounts, and the lawyer you swore was the best couldn’t win a single thing.”Her chest tightened. “Adrian is the best. He’s respected, he’s—”“He’s useless!” Daniel cut in, his voice sharp. He jabb

Naya's povThe headline popped up on Naya’s phone before she even finished her coffee.“Chloe Daniels Speaks Out: Miscarriage Caused by Trial Stress.”Her thumb hovered above the screen, the words blurring. She blinked, set the cup down too hard, and stared again.“Are you kidding me?” she muttered.The knock at the door came at almost the same time. She didn’t need to ask who it was.“Come in,” she called, her voice sharper than she meant.Zipper stepped inside, his jacket slung over one arm, his tie loose. “So, I’m guessing you saw it.”“Of course I saw it,” Naya said, holding up her phone like it had burned her. “She’s saying she lost a baby because of the trial.”Zipper let out a humorless laugh and dropped his jacket on the chair. “She’s fishing for sympathy. It won’t work.”Naya’s chest ached anyway. “But people will believe her. They always do.”“Not this time.” He pulled his phone from his pocket, scrolling. “Because I already got a call this morning. Someone leaked her medica