BREAKING NEWS: Diego Hunter Suspended as Hunter Global Enterprises CEO.“...Diego Hunter, CEO of Hunter Global Enterprises, has been suspended amid allegations of illegal adoption and misconduct. According to court documents, Diego Hunter is accused of adopting Noah July, the biological son of Desmond July, without the father's consent. July has filed a lawsuit against Hunter. The court case is ongoing, the trial date will be fixed soon…”Freya's eyes widened as she watched the news report on her phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she held the device. She stood in a quiet corner of the restaurant, near the staff lockers, where she had stepped away to take a quick break.She tried to contact Diego but his number was simply not reachable. She couldn't help but worry about him as he didn't seem okay for the past few days, battling with the court case and work. And now, she was disheartened to see yet another issue — his unexpected suspension.“...sources close to the family reveal
The trial day had finally arrived. The courtroom stood silent, its sterile air thick with anticipation. The judge's bench loomed at the front, a raised platform of authority. The walls, adorned with the symbols of justice, appeared to bear the weight of the impending trial. The room's stillness was oppressive, and the clock on the wall ticked away, each passing second heightening the tension. Suddenly, the doors swung open and Diego stepped majestically into the courtroom, flanked by his legal team, including his lawyer, Attorney Anthonia. Diego wore a shallow mask of confidence; his smile seemed like an expression he had rehearsed for hours. His jet-black longish hair was neatly trimmed and styled and his tailored suit seemed to hug his broad shoulders, but his gray eyes betrayed a hint of nervousness. His gaze swept the room, his jaw clenched. Letting out a deep sigh, Diego and his legal team took their seats at the defendant's table, awaiting the arrival of the other party
The second day of the trial arrived. Once again, the courtroom fell silent, heavy with anticipation. Desmond's hateful gaze locked onto Diego, who sat calmly, his eyes mindlessly fixed on some point ahead. Behind them, the gallery seats were filled with anxious onlookers including Freya who sat rigidly, her eyes darting between Desmond and Diego. Noah wasn’t able to attend the court's hearing that day because he had to be present at school. Nevertheless, Freya promised to tell him everything that would transpire in the courtroom, though she was certain she wouldn't disclose much information to him. Diego's thoughts drifted between victory and loss. His fallen status as CEO wasn't helping. He still had to go to work amidst the chaos and humiliation. Freya's thoughts were equally troubled. Her gaze was fixed on Diego who seemed deeply absorbed in his thoughts. No matter how hard she tried to assure him that everything would be fine, she couldn't help but have a few doubts. Desmond s
It was time for Desmond's testimony. The courtroom fell silent as Mr. Thompson, Desmond's lawyer, called on Desmond for direct examination.“The plaintiff calls Desmond July to the stand”, Mr. Thompson said, his voice clear and crisp.All heads turned and all eyes locked onto the confident-looking Desmond, who hesitated slightly in a dramatic manner before rising to his feet.He smoothed his tailored suit, his expression assertive and bold. For a few seconds, his eyes locked onto Diego at the defense side, a flash of condescension in his eyes.Diego, in response, stared hard at him, hatred evident in his gaze. His piercing gray eyes cursed his very existence, wishing him bad luck with his testimony.With his lips curved in a mocking sneer, Desmond averted his gaze to his lawyer who waited patiently for him. With confident, purposeful strides, he walked to the witness stand, his shoulders squared. On getting to the witness stand, his eyes scanned the courtroom, locking onto Freya for
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
Early evening arrived and Freya returned to the hospital with Noah. As Diego lay on the hospital bed, staring blankly at the muted TV and lost in thoughts, the door cracked open, revealing Freya and Noah.Diego’s eyes immediately found Freya’s, scanning her face for answers. His expression was calm but with a hint of concern.As soon as they walked into the hospital room, hand-in-hand, Noah’s face lit up in excitement, seeing Diego sitting up slightly in bed, his eyes open and alert.“Diego!” he exclaimed, his small feet pattering against the tiled floor as he ran to his bedside. “You’re awake now! I’ve been waiting for you to wake up!”Diego averted his confused gaze from Freya to Noah, his eyes brightening with relief and gratitude.“Buddy”, he whispered, his gaze softening. He smiled despite the ache in his body, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He reached out a hand, and Noah grasped it eagerly, his tiny fingers clutching Diego’s with enthusiasm and surprising strength.Freya s
Freya sat in the back seat of the car, staring out the window but barely seeing the city passing by. The late-morning sun poured down, its golden light sharp and relentless, as if mocking her awful state of dilemma.Everything outside looked so ordinary—people walking, cars streaming past—but her thoughts were far from ordinary. Her mind was chaos.Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes, threatening to pour out. Desmond’s cruel and unbelievable ultimatum swirled in her head over and over, each word cutting deeper the more she thought about it.Each passing thought made her realise how deep Desmond's conditions were. They were deeper than what it sounded like, and a sense of fear enveloped her like a thick blanket.Desmond wasn’t just asking her to return to him. He was asking her to sacrifice herself for the sake of peace. To live a lie, trapped in a cage, while the people she loved moved on without her.Her heart ached, and her mind raced with disturbed thoughts. How far was she w
10:30 AM Freya’s driver parked her car outside the sleek, towering Everston Grande Hotel. The morning sun glinted off the mirrored windows, but the warmth of the day couldn’t melt the cold determination coursing through Freya. Taking a deep breath, Freya grabbed her purse and alighted from the car. Shutting the door with a soft click, she looked up at the gigantic hotel before her. She smoothed her blazers, straightening imaginary wrinkles. Then she began to approach the main entrance door with brisk urgent strides. She pushed open the glass doors and stepped into the lobby, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. Just then, she halted abruptly as she set her eyes on Desmond. There he was, standing near the entrance, impeccably dressed in a designer suit, his confident stance as infuriating as ever. He spotted her immediately, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Freya”, he said smoothly, extending his arms in mock welcome. "I've been waiting for you." "Let’s just g
Freya rushed out of the hospital, the crisp morning air swirling around her. She didn't know exactly where to find Desmond, but she knew he was never far when chaos unfolded, always watching from the shadows and pulling the strings in secret.Today, she wouldn’t let him hide. Today, it ended—once and for all. And she had to do something quick. What if Desmond decides to strike again and eventually succeeds in killing Diego? What if Diego doesn't survive Desmond's next attack?She strode quickly to the parking lot where her driver had parked her car, waiting patiently for her. Earlier that morning, after Diego woke up, she had summoned her driver to get her car to the hospital where she was.Freya's calm facade crumbled, her jaw tightened, and her eyes burned with determination. She was going to find Desmond wherever he was hiding.She was the reason Diego had nearly died. If it wasn't because of her, Desmond wouldn’t have thought about hurting Diego or Noah. And now, she was going to
The hospital room fell silent, the faint beep of machines and the occasional footsteps of nurses across the hallway the only sounds heard. Freya sat beside Diego’s bed, carefully cutting a piece of toast into small, manageable bites. She had pulled a tray of hospital food, which contained a mix of bland oatmeal, scrambled eggs, and the toast, and balanced on a table close to his bed.Diego watched her closely with a small, amused smile, though his face was still pale from the injuries he was healing from."You don’t have to do this, Freya", he whispered, his voice soft but husky.Freya looked up from the food tray, her gaze meeting his tired eyes. "Of course, I do. Why not?" she said gently, spearing a piece of egg with the fork. "You’re still weak, and I’m not about to let you starve because hospital food isn’t exactly gourmet."He chuckled weakly, the sound more of a breath than a laugh. "Yeah, I’d rather be fed by you than eat this myself. Makes it taste good”, he said, his gaze s
7:23 AMFreya stirred slightly, her neck stiff and aching from where she had fallen asleep. She had slumped over in the hard chair with her head resting on the edge of Diego's hospital bed, her fingers curled loosely around his hand.The faintest movement beneath her palm made her brow furrow in confusion. Being half-awake, she shifted slightly, brushing it off as a trick of her tired mind. Then drowsily, her eyes sank downwards as she began to drift off to sleep once again.But then it happened again—a soft, deliberate squeeze on her fingers. Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, and her mind, still heavy with exhaustion, struggled to make sense of what she was feeling at the moment.The sterile white of the hospital room came into focus, and her heart thumped hard as she lifted her head, her disheveled chestnut hair falling around her face. Her gaze fell on the source of the touch — Diego's hand which was intertwined with hers. Just then, Diego’s fingers moved again, wrapping weakly ar
4:17 AMFreya gently twisted the door knob and cracked the door open. Before stepping in, she scanned the hospital room where Diego lay. Letting out a silent sigh, she stepped into the room, ushering Noah in. Then she gave a slight nod to the nurse who accompanied her as if asking for privacy. The nurse got the message and left, shutting the door behind her. The hospital room was quiet except for the rhythmic beeping of the monitors. Freya's eyes misted, her hand steadying Noah's as they approached the bed. Diego lay unconscious, his skin pale against the stark white sheets. An IV drip snaked down to his arm, and there was a pulse oximeter sensor clipped on his index finger. She had prepared herself for this moment, but the reality of seeing Diego like this was far more painful than words could convey.Freya's heart sank, and her face reddened in anguish. The sight of Diego's helpless state stole Freya’s breath, but it was Noah who let out a soft, broken cry.His grip on her hand
As Freya settled back into her seat, trying to focus on the relief of Diego’s survival, Desmond’s phone suddenly buzzed, shattering the deafening silence.Desmond pulled his phone out, glanced at the screen, and furrowed his brow, making a show of standing up and stepping away.“Yeah?” he answered, his voice pitched just loud enough for them to hear. Freya and Noah exchanged uncertain glances before returning their gazes to Desmond once again.A short moment passed before Desmond nodded, his expression shifting to what Freya recognized as his version of “concern.” “What? Now? Alright, I’ll handle it.”He ended the call abruptly and slipped the phone into his pocket, turning back toward Freya and Noah. Then he gave a small, almost theatrical sigh.“I’ve got to go. Work emergency,” he said, the words almost too casual for the supposed urgency in his tone. “I’ll have to leave. Keep me posted on Diego.”His voice carried that familiar blend of arrogance and feigned importance, which trig
The waiting room was quiet except for the faint hum of the fluorescent lights and the occasional rustle of papers at the reception desk. The atmosphere was still, the kind of quiet that felt heavy and unnatural.Freya sat stiffly in one of the hard plastic chairs, her hands gripping the edge of her seat. Her eyes kept darting to the double doors of the emergency unit at the far end of the room, every nerve in her body tense. Diego’s life was behind those doors, and the uncertainty was suffocating.She felt like she was holding her breath, afraid to let it out in case it broke the fragile silence. Her emotions were spilled all over, tears welling up in her eyes. She had promised herself she wouldn't shed tears anymore and that Diego was going to survive. However, the feeling of self-pity washed over her as she reflected on all she had faced alongside her loved ones in just one day.Noah sat beside her, his small legs swinging just above the floor. His face was pale, his usual spark di