All Chapters of Ruthless Hearts: Chapter 51 - Chapter 57

“Call your next witness,” the judge said firmly, his gavel still resonating in the air from silencing the gallery’s chatter.Margot Rowe rose from her seat. “The plaintiff calls Richard Caldwell.”A stir swept the room. The double doors opened, and two marshals rolled Richard into the courtroom, his wheelchair humming softly across the polished floor. His body looked frailer than before, but his face held a grim resolve.I didn’t miss all the surprised looks as he was brought in.Even Mom and Aria mouthed questions behind me when they saw Richard. I gave them a small and reassuring smile. When he reached the stand, the bailiff swore him in. His voice was a husky whisper, but it didn’t waver.“I do.”Margot stepped forward. “Mr. Caldwell, would you please state your name for the record?”“Richard Caldwell.”“And what is your relationship to the defendant, Evelyn Caldwell?”“She’s my wife,” Richard said bitterly. His eyes flicked toward Evelyn, who sat rigid at the defense table, her f

DEANIt was 2am when the phone rang. Everyone knows such an hour was too quiet for good news.I almost didn’t answer. I’d been pacing the penthouse, restless, flipping through documents for the case, but not reading them. Lani had fallen asleep on the couch, her head bent against a pillow, her breathing soft and steady. For one foolish second, I considered letting the call go to voicemail.But something in my chest twisted, and I picked it up.“Mr. Caldwell?” The voice on the other end was firm, clinical. A doctor. “It’s your father. I think you should come. Now.”The room swayed around me. I didn’t realize my hand was trembling until the phone nearly slipped from it.“I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”___I don’t remember the drive to the hospital. I only remember the sterile light of the hospital corridor as I rushed down it, my shoes loud against the tiles. I remember the smell of disinfectant and metal, and the weight in my chest that grew heavier with each step.When I entered th

LANIThe laughter was still spilling out of me by the time Dean tugged me down the cobblestoned street, his hand warm and steady wrapped around mine. The narrow alley opened into a wide square where the faint smell of roasted chestnuts and cinnamon sugar drifted on the cool air. Tourists were gathered near little shops, cameras flashing, while locals sat outside cafés, sipping espresso as if time itself slowed for them.We’d been wandering all morning, ducking in and out of antique shops and tiny boutiques, pretending we were just another couple on vacation. It was almost too easy to forget everything we’d left behind— Caldwell Holdings, the trial, the chaos of the last few years. For once, I wasn’t looking over my shoulder or preparing for another battle.Dean squeezed my hand, drawing me back to him. “You’re quiet,” he said softly, his voice carrying that mix of warmth and curiosity that always disarmed me.“I’m not quiet,” I said, though my tone was more thoughtful than playful. “I

I was a nervous mess.The mirror reflected a version of me I barely recognized. White silk flowed over my frame like water, hugging me in places that reminded me I was alive, that I had survived long enough to get here. For a long moment, I just stared at the woman looking back at me, as though she were someone else entirely — someone stronger, freer, softer than the girl who once scrubbed her hands raw trying to forget she came from nothing.“Stop fidgeting with it, you’ll wrinkle the fabric.”My mother’s voice carried across the small bridal suite. It was steadier than I expected, but when I turned to her, I caught the gleam of tears already brimming in her eyes. She looked radiant herself, her hair pulled back neatly, her beautiful dress a pale blue that made her appear ten years younger.“I can’t believe this is happening,” she whispered, her hands covering her mouth. “My daughter. My little girl.”I laughed lightly, but it cracked at the edges. “I’m not little anymore, Mom.”Her