The third day of the trial finally arrived after days of restrategizing and planning among the opposing party members. The air inside the courtroom vibrated with anticipation, fueling intense discussions between lawyers and their clients.Diego's face held a mix of desperation and hopelessness, the dark circles under his eyes highlighting his anxiety and sleepless nights. However, he remained hopeful, wishing the judge would make the right decision. He had drastic counter-measures in mind, but was contemplating the consequences. He just had to be patient, he guessed. Only when things go south would he employ his “plan B.”Freya, who sat beside Diego, was equally troubled, her sullen expression matching Diego's. Deep sighs of uncertainty escaped her lungs at intervals as she stared blankly into space, pondering on the possibilities of losing the case. Her mind raced with several questions and disturbing thoughts.Slowly, she turned to glance at Diego whose eyes were fixed on a point ah
As Imelda reached the witness chair, the courtroom's anticipation became almost tangible. Freya and Diego were left dumbfounded, their collective gaze fixed at the witness stand. Attorney Anthonia's expression seemed less confident and utterly confused. Meanwhile, Desmond and Mr. Thompson smiled confidently throughout. Just then, Judge Ava Harrison intervened, her brows furrowed in a slight frown, "Counselor, I wasn't aware of this witness. What relevance does Ms. Wilson have to the case?" "Your Honor, Ms. Wilson has critical information regarding Freya's parenting and mental health in relation to her capability of signing consent forms. We only recently became aware of her testimony”, Mr. Thompson responded, his tone laced with sincerity. Frustrated, Attorney Anthonia swiftly interrupted, "Objection, Your Honor! We had no prior notice of this witness." "Overruled”, Judge Harrison said, “But, Counselor, ensure Ms. Wilson's testimony is relevant and doesn't unfairly prejudice
The room fell silent as Attorney Anthonia cleared her throat, ready to question Imelda. The air was thick with anticipation, suspense etched on everyone's faces. Imelda hardened her expression, rekindling her confidence. Freya, on the other hand, froze Imelda with a glacial stare, her brown eyes spelling utter disgust. Diego's expression remained neutral. He seemed like he had vowed not to be surprised by anything anymore. Whatever would be, would be. With a firm voice, Attorney Anthonia began, "Ms. Wilson, can you explain why you're testifying against Freya?" "I'm concerned for Noah's well-being. I want to ensure he's protected”, Imelda said, her expression stern. Freya's lips curled in revulsion at Imelda's statement, her eyes burning with intense hatred. Diego stole a concerned glance at Freya whose face was red with anger. “Don't you have a history of disagreements with Freya?" Attorney Anthonia pressed on. “We had differences, but that doesn't change what I saw. I'll a
With a loud and clear voice, Judge Ava Harrison declared, “When we resume, the defense will need to provide compelling evidence to counter Ms. Wilson's damaging testimony.”Attorney Anthonia nodded slightly to the judge's order, uncertainty etched on her face. Diego let out an exasperated sigh, his hope hanging on a thin thread. Freya's heart sank and she couldn't hold back the tears which welled up in her eyes.Sternly, Judge Ava continued, “After recess, the court will consider motions to nullify Freya's consent form and potentially revoke Diego's adoption of Noah."Freya's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes widened in shock at the Judge's declaration. The Judge's firm words hung in the air, echoing in Freya's ears.Diego's shoulders slumped and his jaw clenched. His grim expression highlighted his dismay at the twist of events. His lips were curved downward in despair, and he let out a deep sigh of defeat.Following the Judge's announcement, the courtroom erupted into murmurs as th
The court resumed and the defense team reassembled, little confident smiles on their faces. Freya, Diego and Attorney Anthonia, walked majestically into the court, their faces masks of confidence. They were accompanied by a middle-aged woman, whose eyes were hidden behind spectacles.Desmond watched the defense team keenly, his brows raised in curiosity. Suspense was etched on his face as he scrutinized the trio intensely, wondering why they suddenly seemed more confident. He also tried to figure out who the new witness was.Freya and Diego took their seats gently, a ray of hope reigniting within them. Like a routine, Diego's hand found Freya's and he intertwined his fingers with hers; his gentle touch was soothing to Freya's nerves.Freya, in response, gave a warm smile at Diego, her heart aglow with gratitude. She was thankful that despite the misfortunes they had been encountering for the past few months, they were still together. And their bond was even stronger.Judge Ava Harriso
Imelda grasped her purse and frantically dashed out of the courtroom, her gaze lowered. She avoided eye contact with everyone and hastened her pace, guilt gnawing at her conscience.She couldn't shake the image of Freya's anguished face, but she refused to show weakness. She had to get home on time before she would get caught by Freya.She was fully aware of what she had done and the consequences of her actions. But she had no choice. Her financial life was in trouble and only Desmond could help. She turned a corner, heading out of the courthouse to halt a taxi. Her feet carried her swiftly, her eyes fixed on the ground. Suddenly, while she wasn't looking, she collided with a figure, and her apology died on her lips.Slowly, she raised her head to see who the obstruction was. As soon as she set her eyes on Freya, she froze in shock, her eyes widened.Freya stood rigid before her, fury reignited in her eyes. Her brown eyes blazed with rage, the intensity of her stare sending shivers d
Freya and Diego were on their way home, driven by Diego's driver. The courthouse's imposing structure receded into the distance, but its impact lingered. A wave of silence settled between them as they sat beside each other in the back seat, their fingers intertwined.Diego's gaze remained fixed on some distant point outside the window, his thoughts consumed by the Judge's verdict. The tension in his body was tangible, his jaw clenched and shoulders rigid. The unfair judgment unleashed on them threw him off balance, threatening to shatter his composure.Freya's gentle squeeze on his hand went unnoticed as he wondered how the subsequent court proceedings would look like with Freya's consent form annulled. He would definitely lose the case as the major anchor he held onto was eliminated.The board of directors of his company were still contemplating permanently removing him as the CEO. The lawsuit gave them reasons to consider his permanent removal and they were working towards it.His l
The next court session had finally arrived. With Freya's consent form annulled, Diego's chances of winning the case were slim. And his lawyer, Attorney Anthonia, was beginning to run out of ideas on how to save him. Everything seemed bleak.As the litigants took their seats, the courtroom fell silent, heavy with anticipation. Diego sat rigidly, his eyes fixed on the empty bench. His charming gray eyes had lost their spark and were now vague. With the way events were unfolding, Diego slowly began to lose interest in his physical appearance. He now paid less attention to the way he dressed and how his hair looked. He dressed simple, in a white dress shirt and black corporate pants; no tie as per usual. His dark longish hair was simply tied up in a small ponytail, revealing the majestic sweep of his forehead.Freya sat beside him, her fingers intertwined with his. She stole concerned glances at him at intervals, hoping he was fine. Though she couldn't help but notice just how much his ph
Freya frantically adjusted her sitting posture, her expression turning worried. How could she have forgotten that Diego was an expert in tracking her location? He had bodyguards stationed practically in every corner of the city.Desmond remained frozen in shock, his stunned gaze still fixed on Diego whose neutral stare seemed to transform into a glare. His smirk had faltered, his confidence wavering for a moment."Diego, I wasn't expecting you”, Freya whispered, her voice neutral, but her eyes flashing a warning.However, Diego's gaze never left Desmond. His icy stare pinned Desmond to his seat, threatening to disrupt his composure. Just then, Desmond snapped out of his stunned form and regained his confidence, his face scrunched up in a contemptuous scowl."I see you're joining the party, Diego”, Desmond sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm."More like ending it”, Diego retorted, his tone cold and even. With a confident gesture, he adjusted his navy-blue blazers and smoothed his
With her lips curled in a hateful snarl and her eyes narrowed, Freya leaned forward, her arms crossed against her chest."Drop the lawsuit, Desmond. Or face the consequences”, Freya threatened, her voice dropping to a deadly whisper.Desmond's expression remained unmoved, his eyes glinting with amusement. In reaction to Freya's subtle threat, he simply leaned back in his chair, deliberately getting on her nerves."Consequences, Freya? From you? Oh, I'm so scared”, he said with a sarcastic chuckle.Then his expression turned sober, and he feigned fright, widening his eyes and mouth in an attempt to provoke Freya further.With a contemptuous glare, Freya watched him mimic a scared person and burst out laughing. Desmond chuckled for seconds, his body vibrating ridiculously as he tried to control his amusement.Freya's face twisted in rage, her hands clenched into fists. “What the hell is funny?” she spat.Desmond held his chest, attempting to suppress his laughter. “I'm sorry. I guess it
At exactly 9 PM, Desmond arrived at The Eclipse restaurant, his sleek black car gliding to the entrance. Quickly, his driver alighted and held the car door open in order for him to step out. With a stylish gesture, he stole a cautious glance at his luxury silver wristwatch. Seeing he was right on time, his lips curved in a pleased smirk.With a confident expression and demeanor, he stepped out of the car, stylishly adjusting his cufflinks. As his driver shut the door behind him with a soft click, Desmond took a minute to gaze upon the tall, exquisite five star restaurant, a hint of admiration in his eyes. Freya did have a good taste.He was dressed in a classy tailored charcoal gray suit, crisp white shirt, and black tie, his polished black shoes reflecting the dim street lights. He chuckled inwardly as he couldn't explain why he felt like he was going on a date. Freya's unexpected meeting got him overly fastidious about his dressing.With a mischievous smirk, Desmond strode into the
The rest of Freya's day was ruined, following the sudden lawsuit. Her performance in the kitchen dropped by a certain percentage and her focus flew out the window.Her hands moved on autopilot, chopping, sautéing, and seasoning, but her mind was elsewhere. Soon, her chopping turned aggressive and frustrated as a picture of Desmond's face came to mind.She wondered how Diego would react to the news. He might get furious and confront Desmond. And if things were to go south, Diego would be on the receiving end, getting criticisms from the public. That was the last thing she wanted.As she measured out ingredients, her gaze drifted to her phone, lying stationary on the counter. She kind of wished Diego’s call would come in that instant. Hearing his voice would definitely soothe her frazzled nerves. Then, her gaze shifted to the knife on the table and for a minute, she imagined pushing the sharp edge through Desmond's chest, ripping his heart out. At least, she'd go to jail for the right
The morning sunlight danced through Bayside Bistro's windows, illuminating Freya's domain, where she reigned with effortless finesse and precision as head chef.The previous months had been pretty rough; the distraction which came with the lawsuits. Her personal struggles began to take a toll on her work, fueling absenteeism and dwindling productivity. Fortunately, Freya's colleagues rallied around her, offering unwavering support and a helping hand, empathizing deeply with her challenging circumstances. For that, she was grateful.The lunch menu loomed and Freya's hands moved with precision, chopping vegetables in perfect rhythm as the kitchen's warm atmosphere enveloped her. Sizzling pans and the aroma of roasting meats filled the air, leaving her with a sense of home, and that of accomplishment. She was lost in her cooking, her mind clear and focused.Though it was initially difficult, she eventually pushed away the negative thoughts and energy which came with the lawsuit and force
8:00amFreya cracked Noah's room door open and sneaked in, a mischievous grin on her face. She tiptoed towards the bed where he lay, sleeping soundly.She took a minute to observe him, to admire his innocent features which shone in the bright morning sun while he snored quietly. With a warm smile, Freya gently shook Noah's shoulder, pulling him out of his deep sleep."Happy birthday, sweetie! Rise and shine!" Freya said excitedly, her voice soft and soothing.Noah squirmed lazily on the bed and rubbed his sleepy eyes. He let out a long loud yawn as he stretched his tiny arms and legs to full length, unwilling to get up. Then slowly, his eyelashes lifted, revealing his tired icy-blue eyes, and his gaze slowly focused on his mom's warm smile."Mom..." he mumbled, flashing a weak, sleepy smile at her.Freya's smile widened at how cute he looked in his messy morning hair and his tired blue eyes. As she sat gently on his bed, she leaned in and kissed him softly on his forehead. “Happy bir
Freya paced across her living room, her feet wearing a path in the carpet. Her face was etched with uncertainty and worry, and her brows furrowed in a deep crease.The court hearings weren't going according to her expectations. After the last court hearing, where the testimony of the adoption agency officer painted Diego as a fraudulent person, Freya was certain Diego would lose the case. And what if the final verdict wasn't just going to be about canceling the adoption? What if Diego was to be sentenced to a jail term?Her mind raced with worst-case scenarios: Desmond winning the case, Noah's uncertain future, Diego's life being ruined. Her heart clenched with anguish, a sharp pain piercing through her chest. She couldn't take it anymore. She had to take action now.Just then, the doorbell broke the silence, interrupting her thoughts. Freya's heart skipped a beat as she hurried to answer it.As she flung the door open, her eyes fell on Diego who stood on her porch, his expression so
The oath-taking was over and it was time for Mr. Thompson's direct examination. Mr. Thompson approached Ms. Regina Jenkins and with a clear crisp voice, he began his examination, "Ms. Jenkins, can you describe your role in the adoption process between Diego Hunter and Freya, Noah's biological mother?"Ms. Jenkins nodded, taking a deep breath before speaking, "As director of the adoption agency, I oversaw the entire process. Mr. Hunter approached us seeking a private adoption, presenting Freya's consent form. So, I facilitated the adoption, ensuring all parties complied with state and federal regulations.""Did your agency verify Desmond July's paternity before finalizing the adoption?" Mr. Thompson asked further.Diego let out a deep sigh, his face etched with uncertainty. Sensing his growing worry, Freya reached for his hand and squeezed it gently in a reassuring manner. She stole a fleeting glance at him, as if pleading with him to calm down.At Mr. Thompson’s question, Ms. Jenkins
The next court session had finally arrived. With Freya's consent form annulled, Diego's chances of winning the case were slim. And his lawyer, Attorney Anthonia, was beginning to run out of ideas on how to save him. Everything seemed bleak.As the litigants took their seats, the courtroom fell silent, heavy with anticipation. Diego sat rigidly, his eyes fixed on the empty bench. His charming gray eyes had lost their spark and were now vague. With the way events were unfolding, Diego slowly began to lose interest in his physical appearance. He now paid less attention to the way he dressed and how his hair looked. He dressed simple, in a white dress shirt and black corporate pants; no tie as per usual. His dark longish hair was simply tied up in a small ponytail, revealing the majestic sweep of his forehead.Freya sat beside him, her fingers intertwined with his. She stole concerned glances at him at intervals, hoping he was fine. Though she couldn't help but notice just how much his ph