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The judgment
Last Updated:
2024-10-24 17:28:37Related chapters
Love Under Fire Finally avenged
HaraldJake Gardner told his story with an intensity that set the surrounding air on fire. I had already known, in part, what he was going to say, but hearing it from his own mouth was much more brutal than I could have imagined. He started with the name that made me cringe in my seat: Henry Gardner. Jake's father. A man who, twenty years ago, had tried to do what no one else had the courage to do—challenge the Mortons"My father," Jake began, his voice firm but filled with deep pain, "was a partner at Morton Enterprise for a short time. He had believed he was part of something big, a company that brought progress. But everything changed when he realized the dirt behind the transactions. He discovered... things. Corruption, fraud, and extortion.The mention of his father's name brought a suffocating weight to the room. The words weighed heavily on me. I had heard of this story before—fragments scattered over the years, whispers of rumors that my family had always tried to stifle. But
Last Updated : 2024-10-25Love Under Fire Finally at peace
JakeI was consoling my mother after the judge's hearing on that very important day in our lives when the Mortons' son appeared, asking to speak to us. There was a tense moment when he approached me and my mother. I could feel that my mother was tense from the involuntary grip of her hand that was holding my arm.“I would really like to speak to you,” Harald Morton asked again. On his face, there was a black shadow, as if he was overwhelmed.“What would you have to say?” I questioned him, as if I wasn't interested in hearing what he wanted to say. I wasn't actually interested. Likewise, I mean, what would a member of that hateful family have to say to me and my mother? He would certainly be there to try to calm our spirits by offering money, just as they always did with their victims.The man in front of me shifted his weight from one leg to the other in a somewhat disconcerting way, as if he were having to bear a lot inside him. “That’s all this is about, Mr. Gardner,” he began in a
Last Updated : 2024-10-25Love Under Fire I can't do it anymore
HaraldI had gone into the bathroom, alone, and looked at myself in the mirror. My face looked different, more tired, as if the weight of all the recent events had finally begun to be reflected physically on me. The encounter with Jake Gardner and his mother still remained fresh in my mind. It had been a tense, difficult conversation, filled with hurt, guilt and, somehow, a thread of hope that I still couldn't quite identify. What I had done—that attempt to apologize, was the least I could do, but it didn't erase everything my family had caused over the decades. Still, as strange as it seemed, a small relief was beginning to wash over me. Maybe, finally, my family's victims were starting to receive some form of justice.I sighed as I washed my hands, letting the water run for longer than necessary, as if that could purify something beyond the physical. I wanted to wash away all the guilt and all the dirt that the Morton name carried, but I knew that wasn't possible. Likewise, I spent
Last Updated : 2024-10-25Love Under Fire He has no remorse
NancySitting in the basement next to Bruce, heavy silence filled the air, except for the sound of popcorn popping in the bowl next to me. I had prepared it as an ironic gesture, an almost theatrical touch to watch Bruce's downfall. He, who so loved being in control, was now tied up, powerless, and reduced to insignificance. The man I knew who for so many years imposed his power on everyone around him, was now nothing more than a shadow of what he once was. Even so, his tongue remained sharp."You're stupid, Nancy," he began, his tone full of contempt despite his miserable situation. His hands were trapped, and he could barely move, but his arrogance was still intact. "You and your boyfriend just destroyed our children's future. With the fall of the Morton empire, the money that supports Amber's luxurious life will run out, and now our daughter will have to work and live in poverty, like a damn normal person. Is that what you want? Our boy Peter is going to spend his entire life worki
Last Updated : 2024-10-26Love Under Fire With him
NancyWhen Jake finally arrived, the sun had already set, painting the sky with orange and gold tones. I had stood at the window, watching the mansion's courtyard, feeling the weight of waiting. My heart was heavy, anxious to see him, but also uneasy about everything we had faced in the last few days. As soon as I saw his car cross the gate, I felt an immediate relief, as if his presence was capable of dispelling all the fear and anguish that hung over me.I didn't wait for him to get out of the car. I ran out of the house and as soon as he left, I threw myself into his arms. Furthermore, I hugged him tightly, feeling the warmth and security of his body. For a moment, all the pain I carried dissipated. He wrapped me in his arms, firm, as if he wanted to protect me from everything, and I knew in that instant that I was in the right place."I'm sorry I was late," he whispered, his voice muffled against my hair as he stroked me. "I spent time with my mom. I needed to be with her after ev
Last Updated : 2024-10-26Love Under Fire No, not now
HaraldSince that encounter with Glory in the bathroom, the confusion never seemed to leave me. She wanted us to run away together, abandoning everything, leaving the past behind. Before, an idea like that would have filled me with excitement, it would have been the kind of adventure I needed to free myself. There were five years of secret meetings, five years of a passion that burned in the shadows, away from my father's relentless gaze. Being with Glory had been a way to challenge him, to prove to myself that he didn't have absolute control over my life. She had been my silent rebellion, the outlet that allowed me to breathe amid the constant pressure and humiliation.But now... now I hesitated. Her proposal, something that would have been irresistible in the past, seemed to no longer make sense. I drove aimlessly, trying to understand what had changed. And my thoughts kept coming back to Candace.Candace, who was always there, by my side, without asking questions. Candace, who neve
Last Updated : 2024-10-27Love Under Fire This might even be cool
CandaceI was at home, worried about Harald and the situation he was living in. The mansion felt emptier than ever, silent and heavy, as if the walls had absorbed the tension I felt. Harald had left to represent his family at the trial, and I couldn't stop thinking about how much this could hurt him. He was trying to clear the Mortons' name, even though he knew the odds were against him, and that made me uneasy.I needed to find a way to distract myself, so it occurred to me that I could cook. I wanted him to come home and find something welcoming, a dinner made by me, a surprise that would make him feel a little comfort after such an exhausting day. There was just one problem: I had never cooked in my life. I grew up surrounded by servants, and the kitchen was almost unknown territory for me. But that afternoon, I decided I would give it a try.I took out my cell phone and started looking for easy recipes. I wanted something that wasn't so simple that it looked boring, but also not s
Last Updated : 2024-10-27Love Under Fire Madness
CandaceMy head throbbed. When I opened my eyes, the surrounding darkness was almost total, broken only by a faint beam of light coming from a dirty, dust-covered window. My arms were tied tightly, the tight knot cut my wrists, and the cold of the abandoned warehouse made me shiver. I had become disoriented and confused, trying to understand what had happened. Then a growing fear hit me. “The baby,” I thought, with a wave of panic, as I looked at my belly.“Someone help me!” I shouted, my voice echoing through the empty warehouse. I struggled against the restraints, but the pain only increased. My eyes adjusted to the darkness, and that's when I noticed a figure stepping out of the shadows.Glory was there, with a triumphant smile on her face. Her eyes had an insane shine, and she approached me, savoring every step. My heart started pounding in my chest. She was more upset than ever, and the way she looked at me made me shiver.“Glory? What…what are you doing?” I asked, trying to stay
Last Updated : 2024-10-27
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Love Under Fire So, now we can say thank you, Las Vegas!
Nancy“Argh, don’t tighten it too much… You’re hurting my neck!” Peter was grumbling with a grimace as I straightened his tie.“Remain calm; just lift your chin; I’m almost done,” I told him, adjusting my collar. Today was my wedding day with Jake. I was already dressed as a bride and everything, and the ceremony would start in a few minutes. I was so nervous. Not only that, but I really hoped everything would go well.He grumbled in disgust. “Did you know that children shouldn’t be present at their parents’ weddings, Mom?” he said, making me frown.“What? Why do you think that?” I asked.“Because naturally, children are not born before their parents marry. It's not the natural order of things, let alone divorce and second marriages,” he said, being clear in his opinion, as he didn't want to accept my relationship with Jake.I sighed, smoothing his jacket after straightening his tie. “You're getting so big. You're even taller than me.” I smiled softly, and I stroked his black hair. “I
Love Under Fire Such a good friends
NancyMoments later, Jason and Jake were in the wine cellar, somewhere in the mansion, talking about wine and things like that. Laura and I were walking in the manicured gardens of their mansion, which were so beautiful and comforting.“Why aren’t they coming?” I asked after a while, looking behind me to see if her husband and my fiancé were coming to catch up with us, since they were just getting us some wine to drink and talk on the sofas that were there in the garden under a cozy porch."Oh my God! Jason must have stuck him with a long wine conversation,” Laura said with a long chuckle. “We received bottles of the first line from a friend of ours in Chicago, Carter,” she added.“Are you talking about Joshua Carter?” I asked because I knew that name and knew that he had a wine production company.“Yes, I am,” Laura nodded. “What a fortuity that you know him, too.”“Um, I actually met him because of Bruce,” I said. “The Mortons were an influential family, and from time to time Bruce
Love Under Fire How is life?
NancyJake and I traveled to New York to visit our friends who lived there, the couple Jason and Laura Davies, who, since the last time we had seen them, had evolved a lot in their relationship, that is, when I met them, they were still fighting and trying to see what they were going to do in their relationship because they also had issues to resolve. But I remembered Laura's words, when she told me at the time that her husband had hurt her heart, but that nothing he had done compared to what Bruce had done to me. So today it was very satisfying for me to be able to see the two of them together and happy after having solved all their problems. They had even had another set of twins, and they seemed so happy now that their eldest daughter was playing with the babies, running around exuding happiness and joy while Jake, I, and the couple were sitting on the mansion's porch, drinking wine and talking about everything that had happened. This couple had been very important in helping us
Love Under Fire I miss you so much...
Nancy "What? Give it back in kind and make him taste his own medicine? What are you suggesting, Lanie?” I asked, being a little dumbfounded. She and I were still at the dinner table, and she had just suggested that. She shrugged now. "Yes. Didn't your husband go to bed with someone else? Then you also go to bed with another man, and then you become equals,” she explained, making me gasp. “How can you suggest such a thing? Do you think I'm such a vulgar woman up to this point? Do you think me going to bed with another man will solve things for me?” I asked, shocked that she was suggesting such a deviant thing. “It probably won't solve anything, but it will make you feel a little better. What is it? Do you think Bruce deserves happiness after all these years he played with you?” She retorted. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to smudge my body by getting involved with someone I don’t know just to get revenge on him,” I countered. Lanie laughed, waving her hand. “I don't see it
Love Under Fire One year after Lanie's death
Days were passing, and I thanked the heavens that everything was going so well, but today in particular, it was a year since Lanie, my dear friend, had died, and I was terribly sad remembering her.I remembered how she had done everything she could to cheer me up when I was at rock bottom after finding out who Bruce Morton really was.I remembered in detail what the season at her house had been like and how much she helped me, God in heaven...Nancy On that day, the ringing of my cell phone woke me up, and I felt my lamp, picked up the device, and saw that my daughter was calling me. “Hi, my love,” I said as soon as I answered, rubbing my face with my hand, still drowsy. “Hello, Mom? Haven’t you come home yet?” Amber asked on the other end of the line. "Um… Not yet, darling,” I replied a little fearfully. It had been two weeks since I was at my friend Lanie's house. "Um... Okay? When do you plan to return?” She asked in a somewhat petulant manner. I sighed. “To be honest, I
Love Under Fire How good it is to be normal
NancyThe last few weeks had been a whirlwind of emotions. After everything that happened with Candace, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off our shoulders. The scars of pain and struggle were still there, but the feeling of relief was in the air. It was a new beginning for all of us. Like a good mother, I tried my best to care for Candace, and now, seeing her at home, taking a deep breath and starting to rebuild her life, my heart is filled with hope.It was on a mild morning that we realized that life was returning to normal. Amber's laughter echoed through the house as she tried to decide what to wear for a date. I watched her from the kitchen, where she was preparing a simple but nutritious breakfast. The smell of toasting bread mixed with the aroma of fresh coffee, creating a welcoming atmosphere.“Amber, do you need help?” I asked, trying to hide my smile at seeing her so excited and nervous at the same time.“No, mom, I can do it!” she replied, a little louder than usua
Love Under Fire It's a beautiful girl
CandaceThe joy I felt holding my daughter in my arms was indescribable. After hours of pain and struggle, the little one was finally here, and I couldn't stop smiling. It was a girl. The doctor had shown me quickly, and I couldn't believe that this little creature, so perfect, was my daughter. I felt a wave of love that I had never experienced before, and that feeling enveloped me like a warm blanket on a cold day. I looked at her face, so small and vulnerable, and wondered what the future held for us.Jake and Harald were in the room, both overjoyed with the news. The energy was contagious, and the happiness in the atmosphere was palpable, like happy music that filled every space. The smell of disinfectant mixed with the light scent of flowers someone had brought, creating an atmosphere of celebration and hope."Look, Candace, you did an amazing job!" Jake said it with a wide smile that lit up his face. He seemed genuinely touched, and I could feel that he was genuinely happy for me
Love Under Fire Time heals everything
NancyThe morning seemed perfect, the kind of day I always imagined as a normal family, without constant tension or fears. Recent times had been full of challenges, losses and changes, but being there, in Jake's house, surrounded by the people he loved most, brought a feeling of completeness. Everything felt a little lighter. Of course, there were still traces of the past that occasionally appeared in our conversations and gestures, but something had changed within me, and perhaps even within my children.That day, we decided to have a family lunch. Me, Amber, Peter, Jake, Harald, Ivor and Candace, all gathered at a table for the first time, without formalities and without protocols. I wasn't sure what to expect from this meeting, especially with Harald there, a presence that, some time ago, would perhaps have been unthinkable in such an intimate environment. But, little by little, everyone had found a way to live together, with the wounds still healing, but now ready for a new phase.
Love Under Fire We'll be fine
NancyThe next morning, very early, before the sun even fully illuminated the house, I was already awake, organizing my thoughts. I knew I needed to talk to Amber and Peter, just the three of us, without Jake around. This moment was very important, and I wanted them to feel comfortable saying what they really thought, without fear. I knew this conversation was necessary, as there was a lot at stake. Jake was part of this new life I wanted to build, but most of all, my children needed to feel part of it.I took a deep breath before entering their room. Amber was already stretching, her eyes still sleepy, but she noticed my presence and smiled. Peter, still sleeping soundly, had a serene face, something rare to see. I approached him gently, touching his shoulder lightly. “Peter, honey, are we going to wake up? I need to talk to you and Amber. Just the three of us, without Jake.”He opened his eyes slowly, still confused from sleep, but nodded. Amber looked at me with a mix of curiosity
