All Chapters of Behind Closed Doors: Chapter 91 - Chapter 100

Emily’s POVThe High Court of Justice in London looked like something straight out of a gothic movie. Dark oak paneling, soaring stained-glass windows, and stern judges sitting in heavy wool wigs and black robes.Outside, the British media was throwing an absolute fit. Headlines splashed across every newsstand in Mayfair: THE WALKER CUSTODY CLASH: CAN AMERICAN MILLIONS BEAT BRITISH BLOOD?Inside, the air was cold enough to freeze your breath.For three straight days, our lead British barrister, Lord Sterling, had been locked in a brutal, exhausting legal deadlock against Charlotte’s high-society legal team. And unlike Manhattan, the London court was playing by completely different, agonizingly strict rules."Your Honor," Charlotte’s lead barrister, Sir Reginald, announced with a haughty, aristocratic accent, bowing slightly to the bench. "Julian Walker was born on British soil. He holds a British passport, attends a British preparatory academy, and his mother’s family has served the C

Emily’s POVFor two seconds, the entire room went completely airless.I scrambled to pull the heavy duvet up to my chin, my heart pounding wildly against my ribs from pure shock and humiliation.Daniel didn't just get mad—his whole body went rigid, turning into something absolute and terrifying. He grabbed his silk robe, threw it on, and stepped off the bed in one fluid, menacing motion, his silver eyes burning with pure, murderous fury."What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Daniel roared, his voice shaking the heavy glass windows.Charlotte held up both hands, stepping back into the hallway with a sweet, innocent, coy little pout on her face, like she was just a confused guest who had taken a wrong turn."Oh! Oh my goodness, Daniel, I am so sorry!" Charlotte gasped, wide-eyed and fluttering her eyelashes. "I was just looking for the wifi router box! The guest house internet went down, and someone told me the main controls were upstairs!""You barged into a locked master suite!"

Emily’s POVMy throat felt like it was closing up. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move.Watching Charlotte hand Daniel a hot cup of tea while they both laughed at Julian’s joke felt like a physical slap across my face. She looked like she belonged there. She looked like the lady of the house, sitting in my spot, sharing twelve years of memories that I could never be a part of.Charlotte’s eyes flicked over to the dark hallway again, catching me standing in the shadow. That tiny, cruel smirk on her face broadened for a split second before she turned right back to Daniel, her voice soft and sweet as she cooed over Julian.I couldn't do it. I couldn't walk into that room, put on a fake smile, and pretend my heart wasn't breaking into a million pieces.I took three quiet steps backward, my sneakers squeaking softly on the floorboards, and retreated deeper into the dark hallway.I turned around, grabbed my coat and car keys from the hook near the front doors, and slipped out of the main ho

Emily’s POVThe next four weeks passed in a fast, exhausting blur of campus lectures, estate rules, and constant psychological landmines.Enrolling Julian at the New York Academy should have been simple, but Charlotte made sure every single school run became an international crisis."I am his biological mother!" Charlotte had snapped outside the grand stone entrance of the main mansion during the second week, clutching her designer leather handbag like a weapon. "I will be the one driving him to school every morning and picking him up every afternoon!""The security team drives Julian, Charlotte," I had replied calmly from the porch, holding my warm travel mug. "You're welcome to ride in the passenger seat of the armored Suburban if Maya approves it. Otherwise, stay in the guest house."Charlotte had glared at me like she wanted to strangle me on the spot, but she got into the back seat anyway, refusing to let me out of her sight.Meanwhile, back at Bellmont University, my own life wa

Emily’s POVI drove through the rain with tears blinding my eyes, my bare feet trembling against the gas pedal in my high heels.Every red tail light on the highway looked like a blur of crimson lace—a sickening reminder of the sheer lace set I was still wearing beneath my tied trench coat. I hated the smell of scotch. I hated the mental image of Charlotte’s triumphant smirk. But most of all, I hated myself for believing I could ever play house with a billionaire and his toxic past.When I finally pulled my sedan into the Bellmont dorm parking lot, I didn't even care that I was stepping out into a pouring autumn rain in sheer lingerie and heels.I bolted up the three flights of concrete stairs, my hands shaking so violently I dropped my keys twice before unlocking my dorm room door."Emily?!" Sophia gasped, jumping up from her desk as I slammed the heavy door shut and threw the deadbolt into place.Lila dropped her tablet onto the rug, her jaw hanging open as she saw my blotchy, tear-