Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 111 - Chapitre 120

The courtroom settled. Heavy. Expectant. The judge entered— Authority filling the room instantly. “Court is now in session.” We stood. Then sat. And just like that— It began. The judge adjusted his glasses— Looking directly at me. “Ms. Asher.” A pause. “Where is your legal representation?” Murmurs spread immediately. Curious. Judging. Waiting. I didn’t hesitate. “I will be representing myself, Your Honor.” Silence. Sharp. Immediate. Then— The reaction. Whispers. Surprise. Disbelief. Across the room— Victoria smiled. Slow. Satisfied. She leaned forward slightly. “Of course she is.” Her voice carried just enough to be heard. “Only someone guilty would be unable to secure a lawyer.” A few nods. Some agreement. Exactly what she wanted. I turned my head— Meeting her gaze. Unmoved. “Or,” I replied calmly, “someone innocent who has nothing to fear.” Silence. Again. But this time— Different. Not dismissive. Curious. Victoria’s smile faltered—

The courtroom had gone quiet again. Not tense. Not chaotic. Certain. The judge adjusted his glasses, looking down at me. “Ms. Asher.” His voice carried authority— But also something else. Finality. “Are you planning to file a countersuit?” I didn’t hesitate. “Yes, Your Honor.” A murmur rippled through the room. Low. Anticipating. The judge nodded once. “As expected.” A brief pause. “Normally, a case of this nature would require additional time for deliberation.” He turned toward the jury. “But given the clarity of the testimony—” Another pause. Measured. “—I will ask the jury directly.” My heartbeat slowed. Not faster. Slower. “Members of the jury.” The room held its breath. “Have you reached a verdict?” A moment. Just one. Then— “Yes, Your Honor.” Every eye turned toward them. Every breath— Held. “On the charge of defamation—” The judge continued. “How do you find the defendant?” The foreperson didn’t hesitate. “Not guilty.” The courtroom er

The courthouse doors opened— And the noise hit us instantly. Cameras. Voices. Questions overlapping one another. “Ms. Asher!” “Over here!” “Do you have a statement—” Jason’s hand found mine. Firm. Steady. Grounding. He moved slightly in front of me— Shielding. Not controlling. Never that. Just… Protecting. We kept walking. Until— “Ms. Asher!” One voice cut through the rest. Clear. Confident. We both paused. The reporter stepped forward. Smiling. Less aggressive than the others. “I just have one question.” Jason glanced at me. Checking. I nodded. The reporter’s grin widened. “My favorite moment…” He said. “…was when you asked the lawyer if she took the case out of revenge for you marrying Mr. Sun.” A few nearby reporters chuckled. “Brutal,” he added. “Absolutely brutal.” I smiled. “And I was wondering…” He leaned forward slightly. “What was your favorite moment?” A pause. I could feel Jason’s gaze on me. Warm. Curious. I smiled. Soft. Si

Amber POVI didn’t hesitate. Not when he warned me, not when he asked, not even when I understood exactly what this meant. There was no turning back—and there hadn’t been for a long time.We moved naturally, without needing to say much, as if this wasn’t new to us. As if we had done this before. And in a way… we had.Jason pulled a tablet toward us, his movements precise and controlled, while I was already pulling data before he even finished opening the files.“Becker estate layout,” I said.“Already mapped,” he replied without missing a beat.I glanced at him, a small smile forming on my lips. Of course it was.He zoomed into the structure, highlighting entry points, exits, and blind spots. At the same time, I overlaid financial logs, movement patterns, and irregular transactions.“They’ve been funding something off-books,” I murmured.Jason didn’t even look surprised. “Of course they have.”Our hands moved almost at the same time, reaching, adjusting, refining. His strategy was cle

Jason stepped closer, his hand settling firmly on my waist. Possessive. Grounding. Protective. “He studied you.” I nodded. “For years.” His voice dropped. Cold. “Then it’s time we return the favor.” I turned to him fully. A small, sharp smile forming. “Good,” I said. “Because I’m done being observed.” Jason turned to me again. There was something different in his expression this time. Less control. More… concern. “Stay behind,” he said quietly. I didn’t respond immediately. His hand tightened slightly on my waist. “For my peace of mind,” he added. “This could be a trap.” I met his gaze. Steady. Unmoving. “I know,” I said. A pause. “But I’m not staying behind.” His jaw clenched. “Amber—” “No,” I cut in, my tone calm but firm. “I’m not letting fear dictate my life.” Silence stretched between us. I softened slightly, but didn’t step back. “We go together,” I added. “Or not at all.” Jason studied me for a long second. T