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79. A SHATTERED ILLUSION
Last Updated:
2025-03-06 13:24:27
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From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 80. THE LAST GAMBLE
VICTOR "No." I said it firmly, without hesitation. I could hear the frustration in my lawyer’s voice, but I didn’t care. "Victor, listen to me...." "If you’re not competent enough, I’ll find someone else who is." There was silence on the other end of the line. I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair. "Find someone who can get to the judge and bribe him. Everything will be fine." My lawyer let out a slow breath. "Victor, that’s very risky." "So what?" I snapped. "Do you think I care about risks right now?" He hesitated before saying, "If you try to bribe the judge and he turns against us, we might lose more than we bargained for." I rolled my eyes. "That won’t happen." "You don’t understand," he continued, his voice lowering. "This judge is strict. He’s a man who always stands by the law. Even if I wanted to, I don’t have the ability to meet with him personally." I clenched my jaw, my patience running thin. "You’re a coward," I muttered. "Forget it
Last Updated : 2025-03-06From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 1. PROLOGUE
SOPHIA "Welcome home," my father said as he pulled me into a warm hug. His voice was steady and comforting. I smiled shyly as I stepped into the mansion. It was enormous, luxurious, and intimidating in its grandeur. My eyes darted around, taking in the sparkling chandeliers and polished floors. It was nothing like the modest countryside home I had lived in my entire life. As I stood awkwardly, a woman with kind eyes and an elegant smile approached me. “We’ve been waiting for you, Sophia,” she said warmly. Olivia Quinn, my father’s wife. She seemed genuinely nice, not the wicked stepmother I had dreaded meeting. Then there was Isabella, my half-sister, who radiated warmth and excitement. She grabbed my hand almost instantly. “You’re going to love it here,” she said, her enthusiasm infectious. For the first time since I lost my mom, I felt like I had a family. My life before this moment had been simple and lonely. My mother raised me alone in the countryside, far away from
Last Updated : 2024-12-11From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 2. A DREAM TURNED NIGHTMARE
SOPHIA Three years. That’s how long it had been since my life had been upended, stripped of any semblance of freedom or dignity. I sat in the dimly lit bedroom, the beeping of Victor’s machines a steady reminder of the life that still lingered within him. My husband.....my comatose husband had been my only source of hope in a life that felt more like a prison sentence. I brushed a strand of hair from his face, my heart aching as I stared at him. Over time, I’d memorized every line, every angle of his face. He was inexplicably handsome, even in this state. Somewhere along the way, I had fallen in love with him. Perhaps it was because he was the only person who truly felt like mine, even if he couldn’t speak or reciprocate my feelings. He was my everything. Suddenly, his eyelashes fluttered. My breath hitched. “Victor?” I whispered, leaning closer. His fingers twitched, and his eyes opened for a brief moment. I gasped, tears filling my eyes. For years, I had dreamed of this mom
Last Updated : 2024-12-11From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 3. THE UNSPOKEN TRUTH
SOPHIA A knot twisted in my stomach as I stood outside Victor’s hospital room. My hands trembled, and my voice quivered, but I couldn’t hold back. “But, doctor, I am his wife,” I insisted, desperate for him to understand. The doctor frowned, his lips pressing into a thin line. “It doesn’t matter right now,” he replied curtly. “He’s agitated because of you. He cannot be in such a state.” “Who’s agitated?” a sharp voice cut through the hallway. I turned to see Victor’s mother, Evelyn, her eyes narrowing as she approached. The doctor quickly explained, detailing what had happened in the room. Before I could respond, her hand lashed out, the slap echoing through the sterile corridor. My cheek burned as her voice dripped with venom. “Listen to me, Sophia. On no account should you tell Victor that you’re his wife. Do you understand? I forbid it.” I stood frozen, my head spinning from the sting of her words and her hand. She didn’t wait for an answer and walked into Victor’s room,
Last Updated : 2024-12-11From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 4. THE ENEMY'S HANDS
SOPHIA The words barely left my lips before Victor’s expression hardened, confusion and anger flickering in his eyes. He turned to Isabella, his sharp gaze cutting through the air. “Is it true?” His voice was low, tense. “And we’ve been together for a week. Why didn’t you think it was important to inform me that I am a married man?” Isabella hesitated, her lips parting as if searching for the perfect excuse. Finally, she spoke, her voice trembling just enough to sound genuine. “I’m sorry, Victor,” she said softly. “We went on that trip to help you heal. You were learning to walk again. I just didn’t think it was the right time.” Victor scoffed, disbelief etched into his features. Without another word, he turned on his heel and began walking away. “Wait, Victor!” I called after him, my voice breaking as I tried to mask the pain swelling in my chest. My heart shattered with each step he took, but I couldn’t let him leave without hearing me out. As much as it hurt to think of
Last Updated : 2024-12-11From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 5. STRIPPED OF DIGNITY
SOPHIA I took a step back from Lucas, my legs trembling as water dripped down my soaked clothes. I couldn’t stand him or the questions spinning in my head about why he was here. Shaking, I turned and made my way toward the house, desperate to get away from him. The air inside was thick, suffocating, as I heard Victor’s voice echo from the living room. I hesitated by the doorway, my heart pounding. "Why didn’t you just marry me to Isabella?" Victor’s voice was sharp, angry. "You knew she was the one I loved." My breath caught in my throat. I peeked around the corner to see Evelyn standing before him, her face tense. Isabella stood nearby, tears streaming down her face as she clung to the edge of her dress like a victim in a tragic play. “Please don’t blame your mother,” Isabella said, her voice trembling with carefully placed emotion. “I was very sick at the time, and had to leave the country for surgery. But when I came back... I found out my sister had married you.” Victor
Last Updated : 2024-12-12From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 6. A GLIMMER OF HOPE
SOPHIA I remained on the ground, my cheek stinging and my heart shattered. Too weak to move, too drained to cry, I stared at the cold, polished floor. What had I done to deserve this? Why was my life a constant spiral of humiliation and pain? One by one, they all left....Victor, Evelyn, Isabella....all of them. I was alone, except for Lucas. I hated him, even though he had saved me. He was the root of my problems, the reason my marriage felt like a prison. He crouched beside me and extended his hand. “I’m sorry,” he said softly, his voice carrying a hint of guilt. “I regret what I did to you. Victor isn’t a bad man, he’s just being misled. Please, don’t give up on him. He needs someone like you in his life.” His words hung in the air, pulling at the fragile threads of my heart. I hated myself for still loving Victor. Three years of my life had been wasted in this house, and I had nothing to show for it....not a job, not even a penny to my name. Yet Lucas’s words reminded me of
Last Updated : 2024-12-12From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 7. WE'RE HERE
SOPHIA I stared at my phone, my heart heavy with thoughts of everything that had happened since Victor woke up from coma. It had been a whirlwind of confusion and betrayal. Now, this unexpected message sent my mind spinning. Is this really from Victor? I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. Why would he send me a message asking me to meet him at a hotel? If he wanted to talk, he could have spoken to me at home. What was so important that it had to be done privately? 'Maybe he just wants to clear the air,' I tried to convince myself. But doubt gnawed at me. I needed to know if the message was really from Victor. If it was, then maybe going to him was the right thing to do. But I couldn’t act without being sure. I grabbed my bag and decided to go back home. The maids or bodyguards might know Victor’s number. They could confirm it for me. The cab ride back to the Sinclair mansion felt endless, my thoughts a chaotic mix of hope and fear. As soon as we arri
Last Updated : 2025-01-30
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From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 80. THE LAST GAMBLE
VICTOR "No." I said it firmly, without hesitation. I could hear the frustration in my lawyer’s voice, but I didn’t care. "Victor, listen to me...." "If you’re not competent enough, I’ll find someone else who is." There was silence on the other end of the line. I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair. "Find someone who can get to the judge and bribe him. Everything will be fine." My lawyer let out a slow breath. "Victor, that’s very risky." "So what?" I snapped. "Do you think I care about risks right now?" He hesitated before saying, "If you try to bribe the judge and he turns against us, we might lose more than we bargained for." I rolled my eyes. "That won’t happen." "You don’t understand," he continued, his voice lowering. "This judge is strict. He’s a man who always stands by the law. Even if I wanted to, I don’t have the ability to meet with him personally." I clenched my jaw, my patience running thin. "You’re a coward," I muttered. "Forget it
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 79. A SHATTERED ILLUSION
VICTOR I stormed into my house, slamming the door behind me. My entire body was burning with anger. Everything was falling apart. The look on the judge’s face today unsettled me. It was the first time I felt like things weren’t in my control anymore. I clenched my fists, my jaw tightening as I paced the room. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Sophia was supposed to give in. But instead, she was standing tall, fighting me, humiliating me in front of the entire world. And that bastard, Caleb...he was always right there beside her. I gritted my teeth, shaking my head. The court proceedings had been broadcasted online. Because of who I was and because of who Caleb was, this trial had turned into a public spectacle. I hated it. I hated seeing people commenting, judging me, calling me a monster. And the worst part? Even my mother joined them. She sat on the couch, her eyes red, tears streaking down her face. For the first time since this started, she looked com
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 78. THE BREAKING POINT
SOPHIA I looked Victor’s lawyer straight in the eye. "Fine," I said, my voice strong. "You want me to talk? Then I’ll talk." The courtroom fell into a tense silence. I leaned forward slightly, my tone sharp and unwavering. "What exactly could I have done?" The lawyer opened his mouth, but I didn’t give him the chance. "After Victor and his mistress left me to burn in that fire, I was traumatized. I was injured. I was bedridden for an entire month." I paused, letting the words sink in. "For one month, I couldn’t even leave my room. But that doesn’t mean I was unconscious." My nails dug into my palms. "I was aware of everything. I felt every ache, every moment of helplessness. And you’re telling me that Victor was mourning me? That he set up foundations and trust funds in my name?!" I let out a cold laugh. "Let me tell you what he was really doing." I turned slightly, motioning toward Evelyn. She nodded and stepped forward, handing evidence over to the judg
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 77. THE MIND GAMES
SOPHIA The recess felt longer than it actually was. I sat outside the courtroom, on a bench next to Caleb. His mother hadn’t come with us today, so it was just the two of us. The tension from the trial still lingered in my chest, but holding Caleb’s hand grounded me. He gave my fingers a gentle squeeze before speaking. "You’ve gradually become a crybaby, you know?" His lips curled into a teasing smirk. I let out a small laugh, wiping the last of my tears. "Even if the judge forgets about you after this case," Caleb continued, his voice light but warm, "each time he sees someone crying, he’ll remember the case of one Mrs. Sophia." I smiled softly. "Have you forgotten, Caleb?" I murmured. "It’s thanks to you that I can cry whenever I want. Because when the time comes, I know you’ll always be there to make me feel better." His eyes softened, his thumb brushing lightly over the back of my hand. Before he could say anything, a familiar voice cut through the air. "Soph
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 76. THE UNFORGIVABLE BETRAYAL
SOPHIA As I continued speaking, I couldn’t hold back the tears. The pain, the memories....everything came rushing back too fast, too strong. "When I told Victor’s mother I needed medical attention, she refused." I swallowed hard, my voice breaking. "I was desperate. I told her I would go on social media and expose everything." That was the only reason she finally gave in. She helped me because she wanted to protect their reputation. I took a shaky breath. "When I went to the hospital, I found out I was pregnant." Gasps rippled through the courtroom. Evelyn, my lawyer, stepped forward, handing a document to the judge. "Your Honor, this is the official medical report from the doctor who examined my client at that time." The judge accepted the papers, scanning through them as I continued. "According to the reports, I was malnourished. I had barely been eating because I had no money. I had been selling off what little jewelry I had just to survive. I was so weak, and I
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 75. THE TRUTH ON TRIAL
SOPHIA The second day in court began like the first....with formalities and legal proceedings. Afterward, the judge quicky went to the point. He glanced down at the papers in front of him, then spoke in a firm, measured tone. "The second claim made by the plaintiff is what we are handling next. The plaintiff alleges that during the time of her marriage to the defendant, after he woke from coma, he engaged in an extramarital affair with his mistress, causing the plaintiff to suffer greatly at his hands, enduring not only emotional, physical, and mental abuse but also a murder attempt. Also, despite being pregnant, the plaintiff was left in a burning building to die—an act carried out with the collusion of the defendant and his mistress. She was rescued but suffered lasting trauma, including physical scars and emotional distress. She is demanding JUSTICE for what was done to her." Victor sat across the courtroom, his expression carefully blank. But I could see the tension
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 74. THE SILVER LINING
SOPHIA After Victor sat down, Evelyn Potter said. "Mr. Lucas Sinclair, please continue and tell the court exactly what happened." Lucas exhaled deeply, his shoulders tense as he continued. "I regret everything I did," he admitted, his voice laced with guilt. "From the moment Sophia was married into our family, I thought she was just like Victor's past girlfriends, so I made the mistake of going to test her.I went to Victor’s bedroom that night. She was there with him. I tried to seduce her, but she slapped me." Murmurs spread through the courtroom. "Then my mother walked in. She was furious, and I panicked. Instead of telling the truth, I lied. I said Sophia tried to seduce me." A collective gasp rippled across the room. "And ever since then, I felt terrible about it," Lucas admitted, his voice strained. "So I left for a few years. I ran away. But when I came back, my brother had woken up, and I saw that nothing had changed for Sophia. If anything, things had gotten wo
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 73. I WON'T LIE
SOPHIA The moment Victor took the stand, I watched him closely. My hands clenched into fists as he placed his hand on the Bible, repeating the same oath I had taken just moments ago. But unlike me, he had no intention of telling the truth. I could tell from the look on his face. Evelyn, my lawyer, wasted no time. She stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "Mr. Sinclair, you've heard everything the plaintiff has said today. Do you confirm that her testimony is the truth?" Victor leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable. "I have no idea," he said smoothly. "I was unconscious at the time. When I woke up, I was confused about everything going on around me." Liar. "And what about the mistress the plaintiff spoke about?" Evelyn asked. Victor sighed, as if this was all too tedious for him. "The woman Sophia calls my mistress was my girlfriend before my accident. Naturally, when I woke up, I was still in love with her. I didn’t even know I was married at first. I was h
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 72. COMPENSATION
SOPHIA The courtroom was an imposing space...high ceilings, dark mahogany benches, and rows of people seated in tense anticipation. A large, circular chandelier hung in the center of the room, casting a harsh but even light across the proceedings. The air smelled faintly of old books and polished wood, mixed with the distant, lingering scent of anxiety. Caleb and I walked in together, his mother right beside us. She squeezed my hand in silent reassurance, but I barely felt it. My heart was pounding too loudly, my hands clammy despite the cool temperature of the room. On the other side of the courtroom, Victor arrived with his mother, his brother, and a swarm of people who had either come to support him or to witness the spectacle that was about to unfold. I could feel their stares burning into me, some filled with judgment, others with curiosity. But I didn’t flinch. I had come here for justice. The courtroom followed the usual formalities. The bailiff instructed everyone to r
