Chapter Eighty-FourThe courtroom is packed, its air thick with a soft hum of murmurs, as people cast furtive glances at the man sitting at the defense table. He sits there, his face once confident, now drawn, each line etched deep as he looks forward, waiting. Leo can feel eyes on him, the weight of judgment upon him from every soul present. His jaw is set, his hands clasped tightly on the table, though the slight tremor in his fingers betrays the storm brewing inside him.The judge enters from the front, his walk slow and deliberate, carrying with him an air of authority and gravitas. The room falls silent; all eyes turn to him. He sits, his face unreadable, his eyes scanning the crowded space. The air thickens with anticipation, it would seem, even to the walls of the courtroom, which wait for what will happen next.Leo's defense attorney rises, his suit perfectly pressed, but his face strained, a faint sheen of sweat on his brow. His voice, smooth and commanding under any other ci
Chapter Eighty FiveThe courthouse takes its time to empty, as if the formality within those solemn walls indeed will remain in the air. Echoes of the gavel strike still ringing in his head, Nolan walks out into the fresh air of freedom. He stops on the steps of the courthouse and lifts his gaze toward the evening sky. For the first time in years, the weight upon his chest feels a little lighter.Elena joins him a moment later, standing beside him in silence. She watches his face, searching for the signs of relief she knows he must be feeling, though his stoic expression betrays little. Her hand brushes his arm, anchoring him to the present."We won," she says softly, her voice laced with disbelief and quiet triumph.She turns back then, to see Nolan with all that brightness in his eyes, an unsaid emotion. "We did," he murmurs, his words full of traces of exhaustion and satisfaction.****Later In The Evening*The apartment is silent except for the creaking of the floorboards as Nolan
Chapter Eighty SixAfer the chaos in that courtroom, quietness is just spooky. Between the muffled sobs of Marie, who sat on the living room couch clutching a tissue already damp from tears, even the soft hum of the air conditioning seemed to fill the gaps. Her shoulders shake as her face buries into her hands, unable to hide the load of the emotions going through her.Simeon stands a few feet away, fidgeting with his hands and hanging his head low. He has never been good with the sight of his mom crying. "Mom." he starts in a low, tender voice, hoarse under the pounding in his heart from guilt and uncertainty.At first, Marie says nothing. Her sobs worsen, the sound tearing through the silence like shards of glass. Finally, she raises her head and her eyes are red and swollen. "Simeon… why? Why did you do it? Why did you record your father and give it to Nolan? Do you even understand what you've done?Simeon winces at her tone, and his heart shrinks. "I-I had to, Mom," he stammers. "
Chapter Eighty Seven: A Love UnveiledThe late afternoon sun filters through the trees, casting a gold streak on Nolan's car as it heads toward Elena's small townhouse. The air reeks of autumn, with the slight perfume of roses filtering from the bouquet of crimson flowers sitting on the front passenger seat; next to it, a neatly wrapped box lies wrapped with silk ribbon the color of midnight. Inside was a dainty bracelet he had picked out earlier-a piece of jewelry reminding him of Elena's elegance and strength.He cannot help the smile that tugs at his lips as he thinks about how she will react. The surprise in her wide eyes, the blush that climbs up her cheeks when he does something completely unexpected-it's these moments that have gotten him through the roughest times. Today is the day: he has kept his feelings bottled up for too long, and he's finally ready to let them spill.He parks in front of her townhouse, steps out, smoothes his jacket, and then reaches for the gifts. His h
Chapter Eighty EightSimeon stands outside Nolan's house, his palms clammy despite the cool evening air. The words he has repeated over and over in his head are slipping away, replaced with doubt. He knows what he is about to ask of him is unreasonable, perhaps impossible. Yet he can't turn back now.Taking a shaky breath, he rings the doorbell. The sound echoes through the stillness, and after what feels like decades of waiting, Nolan opens the door, his face shifting from surprise to warmth."Simeon," Nolan says, stepping aside. "What a nice surprise. Come in."Simeon pauses, his feet glued to the porch for a second, before he steps inside. The cozy warmth of Nolan's living room wraps him up at once, mingled with a sweet scent of cinnamon. Elena is there, too, seated on the couch with a book across her lap. Her face lights up with a smile."Simeon," she says, her voice soft and welcoming. "It's good to see you."He nods awkwardly-he feels like an intruder. "Good evening, Elena.""Si
Chapter : Eighty Nine"Unshakable Resolve"Sitting in the quiet of the living room, Nolan tries to sort through his thoughts. The weight of the discussion he had with Simeon hangs heavy on his mind. He has sat staring at one spot for hours now, but his mind is miles away, stuck in a maelstrom of old wounds that just would not heal.A psychic scream of Simeon's words echoes within his mind: "You don't even want to consider it? Just one chance for Marie? For closure?It's hard for Nolan to see this as Simeon trying to help him; after all, Marie betrayed him once-not only opting to be with Leo when she could have been with him but then seeking Leo out again when she needed Nolan. Why would he go back to that? It just makes no sense.It's all suddenly such a weight of the past, one that Nolan is done toting. He doesn't owe Marie anything-least of all the chance to ask for forgiveness or to explain herself. She made her choices, and he made his. His life has moved on. His future is differe
Chapter Ninety : HopeMarie sits on the edge of the worn couch, her hands shaking slightly as she folds and unfolds a piece of paper. Across from her, Simeon leans against the wall, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. There is almost an oppressive silence between them, with only the ticking of the old clock on the wall breaking the quiet."You went to him," Marie says finally, her voice thin and brittle, like ice that is about to crack.Simeon nods but does not look up. "I did."Marie takes a shuddering breath. "And? What did he say?"He tightens his jaw. "He doesn't want to see you, Mum. He said. he's not ready to face you."The words hit Marie like a blow to the chest. Her hands stop moving and fall with the paper in her lap, now crumpled. She stares down at it, blinking rapidly as the tears threaten to fall. "I see," she whispers."I'm sorry," Simeon says, his voice heavy with guilt. "I tried, Mum. I really did".Marie shakes her head. "It's not your fault. I should've known i
Chapter Ninety-One: Old Wounds ResurfaceMarie stands outside Nolan's house, her fingers trembling as she presses the doorbell. It's been years since she's last seen him in person, and now she's here, with nothing but desperation to guide her. She smooths down her dress, trying to steady her nerves. She's not ready for this. She's not sure she'll ever be ready, but she has no choice.The door opens, and Marie freezes. It's not Nolan.It's Elena.For a moment neither woman says a word. Marie's face hardens, and a bitter smile twists her lips. "Well, isn't this just perfect," she says, the sarcasm dripping from her voice like honey.Elena's eyes widen, and then something unreadable flickers across her face-surprise followed by calm, collected mask. "Marie," she says so simply, as if the sight of her doesn't stir up old memories she's tried to bury.Marie crosses her arms, forcing herself to stand taller. "I didn't expect you to be here. Or is that your thing? Always being where you're n
Chapter 132She balled her fists into the material of her dress as the confrontation's weight settled firmly onto her shoulders. She kept staring at the door, her heart clutched in her chest. The accusations and disdain from Nolan's family reverberated loudly in her ears, louder than the silence that greeted them after their dramatic exit.Nolan's voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. "Don't let them get to you," he said, his tone softer now, though a residual edge of anger lingered. He stepped closer to her, his hand brushing against her arm, but Elena pulled back instinctively, the tension still too raw."How can I not?" she replied, her voice trembling. "They practically blamed me for everything—for Marie, for Marcus, for… for you not being the son or brother they want anymore.""They don't know what they're talking about," Nolan said firmly, his expression hardening again. "Marie is my past. You're my present. They'll just have to deal with it."Elena shook her head. Her throa
Chapter 131Nolan and Elena share a brief, weighted glance; then he turns to head back to the living room. Elena hesitates, her heart still racing from the tension, but she follows him, her footsteps quieter than usual.As they re-enter the room, Marcus is lounging exactly as they left him, eyes still half-closed as if he's genuinely relaxed, but the edge in his smirk is unmistakable. He's playing a dangerous game, and Nolan's not sure if he's the pawn or the one pulling the strings."Enjoying yourself?" Nolan asks, voice cold and sharp as he stands at the threshold.Marcus raises an eyebrow, makes a languid rise to sitting, tossing the magazine aside. "Just getting comfortable," he says-casually enough, but the challenge in his eyes is undiminished. "Isn't that what guests are supposed to do?"Don't mistake me for one who plays by the rules of hospitality," Nolan responds, not batting an eyelash. He steps closer to him, standing right in front of Marcus. "You're here on borrowed time
Chapter 130“You'll regret it. And trust me, Marcus, I don't make idle threats."The room seems to grow colder as Nolan's words hang in the air. Marcus holds his hands up in mock surrender, though the defiance in his smirk doesn't quite fade. "Alright, alright," he says lightly. "Message received, loud and clear. I'll be on my best behavior, promise."Good," Nolan snaps; there is no room for an argument. He steps back, his body a wall of silent warning, as he moves to stand beside Elena. She shifts uncomfortably under the weight of the tension, her fingers curling around the hem of her sweater.Marcus throws a glance between them, the corners of his lips twitching as if to hold back a comment. Finally, he leans against the couch and picks up the magazine again, an act of pretend indolence. "Three days it is, then," he murmurs, flipping a page. "Should be plenty of time.Nolan narrows his eyes but says nothing, turning to Elena instead. "Let's go," he says softly, his voice low enough
Uninvited GuestNolan and Elena back into the living room, their hands briefly touching, as if for reassurance. The tension between them in the air is palpable, but the look smoldering in Nolan's eyes indicates that he wasn't done with this just yet.Marcus is sprawled out on the couch, crossing his legs, an arm cast indolently over the back of the couch as he seems to exude superiority. He looks up; the smirk widens across his face, for all intents and purposes, he has just won some silent battle.Nolan's jaw clenches, but then, in one swift movement, a sly spreads across his face. He strides forward, his voice dripping with mock politeness. "Ah, my in-law," he says, articulating the words as if Elena's eyes must roll out of her head. "I hope you're feeling right at home?"Marcus' eyebrow lifts, partially taken aback by Nolan's tone, still smug, nonetheless. "I'm doing just fine, thanks."Nolan nods, pacing languidly in front of the couch. "That's great. My in-law, can I get you some
Chapter 128: Uninvited GuestMorning sun peeks through the apartment, casting a golden glimmer in the cozy living room as Elena and Nolan sat with the rare peace that finally rested between them. For the first time in weeks, the air felt light, the tension that had once gripped them now a distant memory. Nolan leans in, a playful smile on his face, and steals a kiss from Elena, who laughs softly and dodges, teasing him with a mischievous look."You missed," she teases, her voice lilting with false arrogance.Nolan chuckles, tugging her closer. "Did I? Let me try again."Their lips meet this time in a long, languorous kiss, and for a moment, everything is just right with the world. The world outside doesn't matter.Elena pulls back an inch, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw. "I missed this," she whispers. "Us. Without all the chaos."Nolan brushes a strand of hair from her face, his gaze tender. "It's not over yet, but I promise you-nothing will ever come between us again.They
Chapter 127 :The Breaking PointThere is an almost palpable sense of tension in the apartment. Nolan sits at the dining table, his head in his hands, while Marie stands across the room, watching him like a predator stalking its prey. A knowing smile curls her lips, as if she's already won.Marie steps closer, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. "You can't keep ignoring me forever, Nolan," she says softly, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "We both know you still have a soft spot for me. Why else would you let me stay here?Nolan's head jerks up, his jaw clenched. "Don't flatter yourself, Marie. You're only here because my mother forced this on me. If it were up to me, you'd already be gone."Marie pouts dramatically, her eyes shimmering with crocodile tears. "Oh, Nolan. Is it really that hard for you to admit that we had something special? Something worth saving?Nolan bangs his fist onto the table and jolts her. "We had something, Marie. Past tense. You destroyed it
Chapter 126The soft creak of the front door echoes faintly through the quiet house, signaling Elena's return. She had only been gone an hour, a quick trip to pick up groceries. As she steps into the hallway, the faint murmur of voices carries to her ears and stops her in her tracks. She recognizes Nolan's voice, low and steady, but there's another one, softer and pleading-Marie.Elena's heart clutches. What could they be talking about now? She sets the grocery bags on the kitchen counter and pads silently down the hall, the carpet muffling her footsteps.In the living room, Marie stiffens at the faint noise of the door opening. Her ears perk up, and her sharp gaze darts to Nolan, who is seated a few feet away from her on the couch, his expression unreadable. Instinct takes over. She rises swiftly and moves toward him, feigning vulnerability as she practically throws herself onto the couch beside him.Her hands claw at his arm, and she presses herself close, her voice shaking. "Nolan,
Chapter 125: A Plea for the PastThe door latched shut behind Elena and, with that, everything seemed to come to rest in a pool of discomfort. Nolan stood by the window and watched her figure descend the street. The strain didn't let go of his shoulders even after she turned and vanished out of his line of vision into quiet suburban anonymity.He turned around, ready to plunge into something—anything—that would take his mind off the growing unease in the house. But he couldn't escape it. Marie was leaning against the counter, her arms folded across her chest, standing in the kitchen with an unreadable expression on her face."Nolan," she said softly, breaking the silence. The edge was off her voice, and for a moment, he almost didn't recognize it.He stiffened, already sensing the direction this conversation might take. "What is it, Marie?" he asked, his tone curt as he walked past her toward the dining table."I want to talk," she replied, stepping away from the counter.Nolan sighed
Chapter 124As Nolan's mother and sister leave, Nolan and Elena are left standing in the living room, looking at each other in shock."Well, that was fun," Elena says sarcastically, breaking the silence.Nolan shakes his head. "I'm so sorry, Elena. I had no idea they were going to do that."Elena takes a step closer to him. "It's not your fault, Nolan. We'll figure this out together."Nolan nods, feeling a surge of gratitude towards Elena. "We will. I promise."As they hug, Nolan can't help but feel a sense of unease. He knows that his family is not going to give up easily, and he's worried about what they might do next.But for now, he's just grateful to have Elena by his side."What do you say we order some pizza and try to forget about this for a while?" Nolan suggests.Elena smiles. "Sounds like a plan to me."As they sit down on the couch, Nolan can't help but feel a sense of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they can make this work.But as they're waiting for the pizza to arrive, Nolan's