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92. NEXT WITNESS
Last Updated:
2025-03-21 19:23:35
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From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 93. WHERE OUR STORY BEGAN
SOPHIA Caleb’s fingers brushed over the back of my hand in a brief, silent reassurance, his touch grounding me in a moment when my heart felt too fragile to hold still. He gave me a quiet look, one that said everything without speaking a word, before rising from his seat and walking to the witness stand with an ease that could have fooled anyone into thinking he wasn’t carrying the weight of everything that was about to be said. His steps were purposeful, and as he approached the witness box, there was a stillness in the room, as if everyone, even Victor, even Isabella, was holding their breath. Leonard Park’s voice broke the silence, calm and sure as he spoke. “Mr. Foster,” he began, “are you aware that you are the biological father of Miss Sophia Quinn’s unborn child?” Caleb nodded without hesitation. “Yes,” he answered, his voice unwavering. Leonard gave a nod of acknowledgment. “And could you explain to this court how that came to be? Specifically, what happened on th
Last Updated : 2025-03-23From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 94. OVER
SOPHIA The tension inside the courtroom was heavy enough to press against my chest as I watched Victor rise abruptly from his seat. His voice cut through the silence, raw and frantic. “That’s a lie! It’s a lie!” he shouted, his face twisted with fury. His outburst echoed off the courtroom walls, drawing sharp glances from every corner of the room. But before he could say another word, the gavel struck hard against the bench, and the judge’s stern voice sliced clean through the chaos. “Mr. Sinclair,” the judge warned coldly, “this is the last time. Sit down or I will hold you in contempt of court.” Victor glared at the judge with defiance burning in his eyes, but after a long moment, he lowered himself back into his seat, his shoulders rigid, his hands clenched into fists against the table. I could still see the tremor in them from where I sat. Leonard Park, as calm as ever, turned back to Caleb with a quiet nod. “Mr. Foster, you may step down.” Caleb gave a small bow of his
Last Updated : 2025-03-23From 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 : 2024-12-12
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From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 94. OVER
SOPHIA The tension inside the courtroom was heavy enough to press against my chest as I watched Victor rise abruptly from his seat. His voice cut through the silence, raw and frantic. “That’s a lie! It’s a lie!” he shouted, his face twisted with fury. His outburst echoed off the courtroom walls, drawing sharp glances from every corner of the room. But before he could say another word, the gavel struck hard against the bench, and the judge’s stern voice sliced clean through the chaos. “Mr. Sinclair,” the judge warned coldly, “this is the last time. Sit down or I will hold you in contempt of court.” Victor glared at the judge with defiance burning in his eyes, but after a long moment, he lowered himself back into his seat, his shoulders rigid, his hands clenched into fists against the table. I could still see the tremor in them from where I sat. Leonard Park, as calm as ever, turned back to Caleb with a quiet nod. “Mr. Foster, you may step down.” Caleb gave a small bow of his
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 93. WHERE OUR STORY BEGAN
SOPHIA Caleb’s fingers brushed over the back of my hand in a brief, silent reassurance, his touch grounding me in a moment when my heart felt too fragile to hold still. He gave me a quiet look, one that said everything without speaking a word, before rising from his seat and walking to the witness stand with an ease that could have fooled anyone into thinking he wasn’t carrying the weight of everything that was about to be said. His steps were purposeful, and as he approached the witness box, there was a stillness in the room, as if everyone, even Victor, even Isabella, was holding their breath. Leonard Park’s voice broke the silence, calm and sure as he spoke. “Mr. Foster,” he began, “are you aware that you are the biological father of Miss Sophia Quinn’s unborn child?” Caleb nodded without hesitation. “Yes,” he answered, his voice unwavering. Leonard gave a nod of acknowledgment. “And could you explain to this court how that came to be? Specifically, what happened on th
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 92. NEXT WITNESS
SOPHIA The moment I stepped down from the witness box and returned to my seat beside Caleb, I could feel the shift in the room's energy, as Victor rose from his seat and moved toward the witness box. His strides were measured, but there was a fury in the way his shoulders were set, a stiffness in his neck, his entire body radiating the anger he made no effort to hide. He climbed into the witness box, his jaw clenched, and his eyes dark with resentment, not just toward me, but toward everyone who dared sit in judgment of him. Victor’s lawyer stood and faced him with a purposeful calm, though there was something rehearsed about it, as though they had already played this conversation out in private and were now only performing it for the benefit of the court. His voice was measured when he spoke. “Mr. Sinclair,” he began, “you have heard Miss Quinn’s testimony. You’ve listened to everything she has said here today. Tell us plainly—did you send her a text message that day, inviting
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 91. CROSS-EXAMINED
SOPHIA Victor's mother tugged at his arm, whispering something urgently, but he shrugged her off like she was nothing more than a nuisance The sharp sound of the gavel echoed in the courtroom, silencing the tension that crackled in the air. The judge’s cold, firm voice followed almost immediately, warning Victor to sit down and keep quiet or risk being held in contempt of court. For a long, thick second, Victor stood there, his body rigid with anger, his jaw clenched tight as though it pained him to obey. Then, slowly, he sank back into his seat, his burning gaze still pinned on me, as if he was daring me to say another word. My lawyer, Leonard Park, turned toward me once again, his voice measured as he asked, “Miss Quinn, do you have anything further you’d like to say to the court?” I shook my head gently and spoke clearly, my voice carrying through the room. “No. That is all.” I had already said everything there was to say. Leonard nodded slowly, then gestured toward
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 90. I DID NOT LIE
SOPHIA I was still sitting in the witness box, staring at Caleb when the courtroom door opened and Isabella walked in, her chin held high like she was walking into a fashion show instead of a courtroom. I watched her take slow, deliberate steps toward Victor, her hips swaying with false confidence. She slid into the seat beside him, her hand brushing his arm in a way that made my stomach twist. Victor didn’t even glance at her. He was too busy staring at me. My lawyer, Leonard Parks, cleared his throat softly and drew my attention back to him. “Miss Quinn,” he began, urging me to focus, “is it true that you lied to the court about the father of your baby during your last hearing?” I drew in a deep breath and reminded myself of what we’d rehearsed. His words weren’t an accusation. They were a strategy. I straightened my spine, met his gaze, and answered clearly, “No. I did not lie to the court.” Leonard nodded encouragingly. “Could you clarify that for us?” he asked, tilting
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 89. ALL I NEED
SOPHIA The last two days had been nothing short of exhausting. Between meetings with Caleb and our lawyer, going over every detail of the case, and preparing myself mentally for court, I could barely think straight. Caleb kept insisting I see the doctor, making sure I and the baby was fine. And as always, he was right. My stress levels were off the charts, but the baby was healthy, and that was all that mattered to me. On top of everything, there were still calls with the wedding planner and messages coming in about the case. The media wasn’t letting go. Some people supported me. Most didn’t. I’d stopped reading the comments. Now, the day had finally come. I walked into the courthouse holding Caleb’s hand. His grip was firm, like he was trying to pour his strength into me. I needed it. Caleb’s mother walked just behind us, quiet but calm. She had offered to be there for support, and I was grateful. As soon as we entered, I saw Victor. He stood across the room, his eyes
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 88. AGAIN
SOPHIA I sat with Caleb, listening to the wedding planner as she ran through the details. Flowers. Decorations. Music. The guest list. She spoke about how grand it was going to be. I nodded along, but inside, I was barely holding back the excitement. This was it. My wedding. For the first time in my life, I was going to walk down the aisle, wearing a white dress, and marry a man who loved me just as much as I loved him. No lies. No secrets. Just… love. When we finished the meeting, Caleb took my hand. His fingers laced through mine as we walked out of the building together. The sun was warm on my face, and I felt light. Until the reporters came. They swarmed us so fast I didn’t have time to react. Cameras flashed in my face. Microphones shoved at my mouth. Voices shouting over each other. “Is it true the child you’re carrying belongs to Mr. Caleb Foster?” “Were you cheating on your husband while you were still married to Mr. Sinclair?” “Did you lie to the court just
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 87. WHAT TRUTH?
VICTOR When every ounce of rage and lust had burned through me, I stood up from the bed without a word. My breathing was still heavy, my body still thrumming with what I’d just done to Isabella. But it was done. I dragged my clothes back on, buttoning my shirt slowly while Isabella lay there, trembling, wrecked. She was still trying to catch her breath, still caught in the heat of it, thinking there was something more between us. There wasn’t. I fastened my belt and turned to her. “There’s something I need you to do.” She blinked up at me, confused at first, then slowly sat up. Her hair was a mess, her skin marked where I’d held her too tightly. I didn’t care. “What do you mean?” she asked, her voice hoarse. I pulled a cigarette from the box on the table, lit it, and took a slow drag before answering. “You want to stay out of prison?” I said, my tone flat. “You do this for me, and I’ll make sure you get the best lawyer money can buy. You’ll walk away clean.” She swallowe
From Ashes To The Billionaire's Arms 86. OLD TIES
VICTOR I stormed into the house like a man possessed, kicking the door open so hard it slammed against the wall. My chest was burning, my fists tight, and I could barely breathe from the anger choking me. I grabbed the first thing I saw—a glass vase on the table—and smashed it into the ground. It shattered into a thousand pieces, but it wasn’t enough. Nothing was enough. “Victor!” my mother’s voice rang out. She rushed towards me, wide-eyed and worried. “What’s going on? What happened?” I turned to her, my hands shaking. “I lost, Mom,” I spat, pacing the room like a caged animal. “I lost the case. Half of my money is gone. Gone!” I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “People are still mocking me, still throwing dirt on my name like I’m some fool who deserves it.” She sighed. “Come on, Victor. It's already in the past. Put it behind....." “She played me!” I roared, slamming my fist into the wall. The sharp sting barely registered through my rage. “Sophia! She tricked me. She tr
