All Chapters of His Open Marriage, My Forbidden Secret : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

The lawyer's office smelled like leather and old money. Lia sat in an oversized chair across from Patricia Morrison, one of Chicago's most ruthless divorce attorneys, while Caspian paced behind her like a caged predator."Explain it to me again," Caspian said, his voice dangerously quiet. "How the fuck does he think he can claim paternity when the timeline doesn't add up?"Patricia folded her hands on the mahogany desk, her expression calm despite the fury radiating from him. She was sixty, sharp as a knife, and completely unfazed by Caspian Thorne's reputation."He's not claiming he can prove it," she said evenly. "He's claiming that there's reasonable doubt about the timeline, and therefore the court should halt divorce proceedings until paternity can be definitively established.""That's bullshit," Caspian bit out."It's a strategy." Patricia's gaze shifted to Lia. "Julian knows the baby isn't his. But if he can delay the divorce long enough, drag this through the courts, make it m

Lia woke to the sound of her phone vibrating violently on the nightstand. She reached for it blindly, squinting at the bright screen in the dark bedroom.4:47 AM.Seventeen missed calls. Forty-three text messages. Twelve voicemails.Her stomach sank.Beside her, Caspian stirred. "What's wrong?""I don't know." Lia sat up, scrolling through the notifications. Unknown numbers mostly, but also Sophie, Isla, her mother, even people she hadn't spoken to in years. "Something's happened."Caspian was already reaching for his own phone. His jaw tightened as he read something on the screen. "Fuck.""What?"He turned his phone toward her. The headline made her blood run cold.PREGNANT MISTRESS IN BILLIONAIRE LOVE TRIANGLE: Lia Ashford's Secret Baby Sparks Paternity BattleBelow it, a photo taken yesterday, outside Patricia's law office. Lia and Caspian walk to his car, his hand protectively on her lower back. The angle made it look intimate, scandalous. And if you looked closely, you could see

Lia stood in the wreckage of broken ceramic and spilled coffee, phone still pressed to her ear, Jessica Hartley's words echoing in her head.*I'm pregnant. Julian knows. And Margaret is planning to use my baby to destroy yours.*"Lia?" Caspian was on his feet, crossing the kitchen. "What happened?"She looked up at him, then at Isla hovering near the counter with a handful of paper towels, both of them waiting for an explanation that would make sense."That was Julian's assistant," Lia said slowly. "Jessica Hartley."Isla dropped the paper towels. "His mistress?""She's pregnant. With Julian's child."The words landed like grenades in the pristine penthouse kitchen. Caspian went very still, his expression shifting from concern to something harder, more dangerous."How far along?" he asked."I don't know. She didn't say." Lia set down her phone carefully, like it might explode. "She wants to meet. Tomorrow at noon. Lincoln Park Café.""Absolutely not." Caspian's response was immediate.

The federal courthouse felt different when your entire future hung in the balance. Lia sat in the gallery of Judge Morrison's courtroom, hands folded in her lap to hide their trembling. Patricia sat to her left, Caspian to her right, his presence a solid wall of controlled fury. Dorian was somewhere behind them, and Isla had squeezed her hand before the proceedings began. "All rise for the Honorable Judge Elizabeth Morrison." They stood. Lia's legs felt unsteady, her stomach churning with morning sickness she'd barely managed to keep at bay. Judge Morrison entered—silver-haired, sharp-eyed, carrying herself with the weight of federal authority. She took her seat, surveyed the courtroom, and gestured for everyone to sit. "We're here regarding emergency motion 2026-CV-847, Ashford v. Thorne, federal intervention in ongoing state custody proceedings." Morrison's voice was crisp, no-nonsense. "I've reviewed all submitted materials. Ms. Morrison, your motion for protective order?"

Lia didn't answer Julian's question.Instead, she stood from the table, her chair scraping against hardwood. "I'm tired. The stress of today I need to rest.""Amelia." Julian's voice stopped her before she reached the doorway. "We're going to have to talk about this eventually.""I know." She kept her back to him. "But not tonight. Please."A long pause. Then: "Of course. Get some rest. We have a counseling session tomorrow at ten."Lia climbed the stairs to the guest room, locked the door behind her, and finally let herself fall apart.She made it to the bathroom before the tears came silent, shaking sobs that left her breathless. Five years she'd spent in this house. Five years of pretending, performing, becoming smaller and smaller until she almost disappeared entirely.And now she was back.The shower helped. Scalding water washed away the day, the dinner, the feeling of Julian's eyes on her. She stood under the spray until her skin turned pink, until she could breathe again witho