Lahat ng Kabanata ng Sugar Daddy Vampire: Kabanata 181 - Kabanata 190

The studio lights were blinding, hot against Zoe’s skin, but Chloe never let go of her hand. The cameras were already rolling, the exclusive interview broadcast live across major networks, headlines spinning in real time: “Chef Breaks Silence on Harassment Claims Against Renowned Restaurateur.” Zoe’s voice trembled at first, the weight of a nation’s gaze pressing down on her. But when the interviewer leaned in, asking softly, “Why now? Why speak out?” she drew strength from Chloe’s fingers tightening around hers. “Because silence only protects the predator,” Zoe said, her voice steadier than she felt. “And I refuse to protect him anymore.” The host nodded gravely. “There are people who say this is all for money, that you… fabricated the story.” Zoe’s throat caught, but Chloe leaned forward, eyes sharp as glass. “Do you see how quickly a woman’s pain is reduced to a transaction?” she cut in, her voice like steel. “The evidence speaks for itself. We didn’t come here to beg for sympa

The penthouse felt different now, charged, tense, alive with magic. Melinda and Diana moved with purpose, their hands tracing intricate patterns in the air, murmuring incantations under their breath. Candles flickered without wind, shadows stretched and warped along the walls, and a faint hum of energy thrummed through the floors. Chloe hovered nearby, phone in hand, coordinating last-minute details for Zoe’s court case. Every time she glanced toward the witches, she felt the weight of both fear and reassurance. Protective wards were being cast not just for her, but for her mother, for Zoe, and even for the penthouse itself. “Melinda, make sure the barrier around the windows is impenetrable,” Valerius’s voice cut through the tension from behind her. He stood in the corner, arms crossed, eyes sharp and vigilant. “We can’t afford any Dominion interference while the court case is ongoing.” Melinda didn’t look up. “Relax, I know what I’m doing. This is strong enough to keep anyone out

The courtroom brimmed with tension. The judge called the first witness, a woman in her mid-thirties, who walked with shaky legs to the stand. Her voice cracked at first but grew stronger as she detailed the pattern of harassment she’d endured at the restaurateur’s hands. Zoe clasped her hands in her lap, silent tears sliding down her cheeks. Chloe slipped an arm around her shoulders, steadying her. Melinda and Diana exchanged looks, this was bigger than even they’d anticipated. One woman’s case had unleashed a chorus of voices. The restaurateur’s lawyer kept objecting, trying to derail the testimonies, but the judge’s patience was thinning. Rachel leaned back, her expression as calm as steel. For once, it was Zoe’s side with the momentum. But Chloe couldn’t shake it, the prickle at the back of her neck. Every time she looked toward the back of the room, she saw them. Dark coats, expressionless faces, eyes like pits that seemed to absorb all light. They weren’t reporters. They we

The judge’s gavel struck, and the murmurs in the courtroom dimmed. The restaurateur’s lawyer rose first, smoothing his expensive suit with a deliberate calm that made Chloe’s stomach twist. He adjusted his glasses, then turned to the jury with a carefully constructed smile. “Ladies and gentlemen, what we are witnessing,” he began, his voice oily, “is not a pursuit of truth, but of personal gain. My client, a respected businessman who has built his reputation for over twenty years, is being smeared. These so-called videos? Digital fabrications. Deepfakes, manipulated media designed to destroy his credibility. And who benefits?” He turned sharply, pointing in Zoe’s direction. “She does. A woman who, let us not forget was under his employment, seeking promotion, higher pay, and more recognition. When she did not receive it, she found another way. To drag him through the mud.” Gasps rippled through the courtroom. Zoe’s shoulders trembled, and Chloe gripped her hand so tightly their knu

When the night wound down and the others drifted away in pairs and groups, Melinda leaned close to Zoe, her hand brushing her arm in that way that felt both protective and quietly possessive. “Come back with me,” she said softly, her eyes warm but edged with concern. “You’ve been through too much today, I want to take care of you. Let’s celebrate properly, just us.” Zoe hesitated for only a moment before nodding. “I’d like that.” The drive was calm, the city lights reflecting in Zoe’s tired eyes. She felt the weight of exhaustion from the trial, from nearly losing her life in the courthouse hallway, but Melinda’s presence was grounding. By the time they reached Melinda’s house, Zoe already felt safer. Inside, the air smelled of sandalwood and something floral, and the walls hummed faintly with wards, subtle, glowing sigils etched into the trim and doorways. Melinda closed the door behind them, locking it with a casual flick of her fingers. The latch sealed with a shimmer of light