บททั้งหมดของ THE BILLIONAIRE'S SECRET HEIR : บทที่ 11 - บทที่ 20

Caleb walks through the door at 4 AM. Exhausted. Holding folder. I'm awake, I couldn't sleep after his call."You got it?"He nods and sets the folder on the table. "Marcus's will. Everything he said. Evan gets controlling interest, I will manage it in trust until he turns twenty-five.""So Harper loses?""Harper's challenging it. His lawyer called while I was driving back. Filing papers within forty-eight hours. Claiming Marcus wasn't competent when he signed it, and my mother's helping them. She's giving them medical records showing Marcus had strokes before he signed."He sits beside me, head in his hands."We need a lawyer. A good one. Someone who can fight Harper's team.""Do you know anyone?""I know corporate lawyers. Business attorneys. But probate law? Estate challenges? That's different and expensive. Retainer alone could be fifty thousand or more. And I don't have fifty thousand anymore. I have maybe ten thousand in my personal account. That's it."I look at him. Three mont

Eleanor's apartment is on the upper East Side. Fifteen-minute drive from the lawyer's office. The building has a doorman. He nods as we walk past.The elevator takes us to the top floor, only two apartments. Eleanor's waiting at the door, she opens it before we knock."Come in quickly. Before anyone sees you."Inside, the apartment is huge. Floor-to-ceiling windows. View of park. Modern furniture. Art on walls. Nothing like the safe house. Nothing like the motels. This is where Caleb grew up. This kind of wealth.I feel out of place immediately."How did it go with Daniel?" Eleanor asks."He took the case," Caleb says. "He thinks we can win, but it's going to be a big fight.""I expected that. Harper doesn't do anything halfway, and Clara's out for blood after you took that will." She looks at me. "How are you holding up, Lena?""I'm okay. Just tired and overwhelmed by all this"" I understand, everything will be sorted okay?. You look exhausted. When's the last time you had a proper

It's 2 AM. I can't sleep. I lie in bed at Eleanor's. Staring at the ceiling. Deposition in three days. Monday morning. Harper's lawyers, invasive questions, cameras, the press. Everything will be riding on me and I have to stay calm without breaking. I can't stop thinking about all the ways it could go wrong. I get up. I need some water and movement. I need to stop thinking. I walk to the kitchen, the light is already on. Caleb's there sitting at the counter with a glass of water in front of him. Staring at nothing. "Can't sleep either?" I ask. He looks up. Eyes tired. "Every time I close my eyes, I see Monday. See them tearing you apart. See you having to defend yourself against people who've already decided you're guilty." I sit beside him. "Daniel says I'm ready." "You are. But that doesn't mean it won't hurt." I pour myself some water. Hands shaking slightly. "What if I mess up?" I ask quietly. "What if I say something wrong and it costs us everything?" "You won't." "Y

It's 4 PM. Back in the conference room. Lunch was coffee and silence, we couldn't eat. Sienna sits across from me. Still beautiful, even exhausted and thin, still beautiful.She still won't look at me, but keeps glancing at Caleb.Victoria stands. "Let's resume. Ms. Martinez, can you describe your relationship with Caleb Vaughn?""We dated for eight months. Ended about a year before he met Lena.""And how did the relationship end?""Caleb broke up with me. Said he wasn't ready for something serious.""Were you hurt?""Yes. I loved him. I thought we had a future."Victoria nods sympathetically. "And then he met Ms. Hart. How did that make you feel?"Daniel objects. "Relevance?""I'm establishing a motive, Your Honor. Ms. Martinez's feelings toward Ms. Hart are directly relevant to her testimony.""There's no judge here," Daniel reminds her. "But I'll allow the question for now."Sienna looks at Caleb. Then at me."I was angry. He told me he wasn't ready for a serious relationship. Then

The elevator opens directly into his apartment. A penthouse, on the sixty-second floor.We step inside. Walls of windows. Manhattan spread out below, the sun rising."Wow."Caleb drops the keys on the entry table. "I know it's a lot. I can give you the tour or…""Just sit. I think we should just sit.""Yeah. Okay."We sit in the living room. Modern furniture, everything gray and white and expensive. Nothing personal. No photos, no warmth."How long have you lived here?""Five years. Since I started at Vaughn Corp full time.""It doesn't look lived in."He looks around. "I guess it's not. I was always at the office. This was just where I slept."I sit on the couch. Leather, and soft. He sits beside me. Leaving space in between. "I can't believe he's gone," he says quietly. "I keep expecting him to call. To criticize some decision I made.""I know.""He died thinking I forgave him. But I'm not sure I did. Not completely.""You don't have to have it figured out right now."He leans back