All Chapters of A Man in Distress: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

CHAPTER 11 — LianaThe office was quieter than usual when I arrived the next morning. Most of the junior associates were buried in research, but the war room — our battlefield — felt almost suspended, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath, waiting for us to act again.Ethan was already there, hovering over his laptop, sipping coffee like it was a life support system. His brow was furrowed just enough to show he was serious, but the corners of his mouth hinted at the same teasing confidence that had steadied me yesterday.“Morning,” I said cautiously. My voice sounded small in the cavernous room.“Morning,” he replied, not looking up immediately. Then he glanced at me, and that calm, grounded expression eased a little of the tension in my chest. “Coffee?”I shook my head. “I’ll survive.”He smirked. “We’ll see. Survive or thrive — that’s the real question.”I took a deep breath and sat across

CHAPTER 13 — LianaThe courtroom smelled of polished wood and faint leather, the air heavy with anticipation. I adjusted my blazer, clutching my briefcase like it was a lifeline. Today wasn’t just another session — it was the full clash, the moment we’d been preparing for. Every late-night strategy session with Ethan, every meticulous note, every observation about Evan had led to this.And there he was. Damien Evan Ramos. Sitting at his table like he owned the place, calm, precise, calculating. His eyes scanned the room, but when they met mine for a split second, I felt it — that sharp, old familiarity, the memory of long nights working side by side, of laughter and tension, of… everything I had tried to bury.I exhaled slowly, willing myself to focus. Ethan was beside me, calm as ever, his hand brushing mine briefly in a grounding gesture.“You ready?” he whispered.I nodded, my voice caught in my throat. “As ready as I’ll

CHAPTER 15 — LianaThe city smelled of rain and concrete as I walked toward the subway entrance, my briefcase swinging lightly at my side. The courthouse sessions were over for the day, but my mind was still tangled in contracts, precedents, and arguments. Every exchange with Evan felt like it had left a mark, a pressure I couldn’t shake.I needed air. I needed clarity. And I needed to convince myself that seeing him today — out of the courtroom, in the city, in my life — didn’t matter.I told myself that over and over as I descended the steps.---And then I saw him.Evan Ramos.Not behind a courtroom desk. Not in a sea of legal files and colleagues. He was sitting at a café, the one I’d passed countless times without noticing, his dark suit slightly loosened, tie undone at the top button. He was reading a tablet, lips twitching with the faintest smirk, the way he always did when analyzing something

CHAPTER 17 — LianaThe office was quiet, almost unnervingly so. Most of the attorneys had gone for the day, leaving only the faint hum of the air conditioning and the soft tapping of keyboards in the background. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples, trying to shake the lingering tension from today’s courtroom session.I had faced Evan Ramos directly — not just professionally, but emotionally, though I’d convinced myself that I kept that separate. And yet, I couldn’t shake the pull of him. The way he observed me, the faint acknowledgment of respect or recognition… it unnerved me more than I cared to admit.Ethan appeared beside me, leaning casually against my desk. His presence, as always, grounded me.“You’re quiet again,” he said, tone light but perceptive.I frowned. “I’m just… thinking.”He raised an eyebrow. “About the case?”I shook my head. “Not just the case. About him. About… everything.”

CHAPTER 19 — LianaThe courtroom felt smaller today, though the space hadn’t changed. The air was thick with anticipation, tension, and the quiet hum of lawyers moving about, preparing for the session. I gripped my notes tightly, my fingers brushing against the edge of the folder like it was a lifeline.Ethan was beside me, calm as ever, reviewing the case files with his characteristic meticulousness. He noticed my grip tighten and looked up, eyes sharp.“Deep breath,” he said softly. “Today is just another session. You know the material, you know the strategy. Focus.”“I know,” I whispered, but the flutter in my chest betrayed me.Evan was already in the courtroom when we arrived. He didn’t look at me at first, instead reviewing documents with the kind of intensity that had always unsettled me. Then, as if sensing my presence, his gaze flicked up — sharp, assessing, and inescapable.I squared my shoulders, remindi