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CH.228
Dernière mise à jour:
2025-02-04 22:56:51
Golden ButterflyToday's update. :)
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The Billionaire's Sinful Affair CH.229
Emmeline clamped her hands over her mouth. Her wide eyes were fixed on Richard’s motionless body sprawled across the kitchen floor.A wave of nausea churned in her stomach.“Oh my God,” Emmeline whispered, trembling. “What have I done?” Her legs felt like they were about to give out beneath her. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from him as her mind spun with the worst possible thoughts.Tears welled in her eyes, but they refused to fall. They were frozen in place as her lungs struggled to draw in air.“I killed him,” Emmeline choked out then shook her head in frantic denial.“No, no, no. This can’t be happening.” Her hands trembled as she crouched down beside him. “Richard? Can you hear me?”There was no response.Emmeline’s heart thudded even more violently in her chest. She hesitated, then reached out with a trembling hand. She slowly pressed her index finger under his nose while holding her breath.Relief flooded through her when she felt the faint warmth of his breath against her f
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-05The Billionaire's Sinful Affair CH.230
Zavian’s eyes closed for a moment and his shoulders sagged under the weight of his guilt.“I’ll be fine,” Emmeline whispered. “For both of us.”His eyes opened, and he stroked her hand with his thumb. “Did you call Minnie, or do you want me to?”“Can you?” Emmeline asked, handing him her phone.Zavian nodded, pulling his phone from his pocket. As he typed out a message, he glanced at her, his expression softening. He didn’t want to remind her of what had happened, not now. She’d been through enough.The phone vibrated in his hand about a minute later, pulling his attention away from Emmeline. He glanced at the screen then turned back to Emmeline.“She’s on her way home,” Zavian announced as his thumb brushed over the back of her hand in a soothing rhythm.The quiet comfort he offered was enough to keep her from spiraling again. But the moment was interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps and a familiar voice echoing through the house.“Emmeline!”Minnie’s voice carried urgency. She
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-07The Billionaire's Sinful Affair CH.231
Emmeline offered Zavian a faint, tired smile. Her exhaustion was evident in the way her shoulders drooped and her gaze flickered to the floor as if even holding eye contact required too much energy.Minnie leaned closer and automatically put her hand on Emmeline's shoulder. “I’m sorry you had to go through all that,” Her voice was warm but tinged with irritation.Emmeline felt grateful. “The original plan was to have Mr. Blackthorn stay outside the house to protect me from Richard. However, I decided to handle this on my own. I thought being calm would be enough to keep me safe.” She drew in a shaky breath that seemed to rattle in her chest. “But I ruined everything when I blurted out that Mr. Blackthorn was outside in a moment of anger. He made sure I couldn't call for help after that.”"Don't you dare blame yourself," Minnie’s eyes flashed with fury. "Richard is the only one responsible for his actions. You were trying to protect yourself."Her gaze darted toward Zavian, who stood ac
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-07The Billionaire's Sinful Affair CH.232
From where Emmeline stood, she could see the sharp lines of Zavian’s jaw and the calm determination in his expression.“But that won’t be enough.” Zavian’s voice sharpened, each word carrying an edge of steel. “We’re going to reclaim everything that was taken from her. Her rights. Her dignity. From anyone who frames her for a crime she never committed.”His gaze darkened and his next words were laced with quiet fury. “A man who, let’s be honest, is the real criminal here.”Richard’s face turned pale. “Criminal?” he repeated, barely audible.Zavian rested a steady hand on Emmeline’s back. All of the fear she had been clinging to seemed to vanish when he looked directly into her eyes.“Yes, criminal,” Zavian said firmly. “Emmeline has been a victim of domestic violence, and she plans to file a lawsuit against you as well.”He turned back to Richard, his voice steady but cold. “In fact, we’ll be heading straight from here to get a medical report documenting the injuries she suffered befor
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-08The Billionaire's Sinful Affair CH.233
The kiss was a quick, lingering pull before he sat back down as if nothing had happened.Emmeline froze. Her brain struggled to catch up with what had just happened. “What exactly are you trying to do, Judge Blackthorn?” Her voice was barely steady when she finally managed to speak.Zavian’s gaze didn’t waver, and the intensity in his eyes only deepened. “I’m jealous,” he said simply.Her brow shot up in surprise. “Jealous?”Zavian leaned back in his chair. “Your husband will be on your mind for the next few weeks,” he explained. “Even when you’re sitting with me, you’ll be thinking about him… about the divorce, the court proceedings, everything. So, I’m trying to cause a little trouble for you. That way, you’ll have no choice but to think about me instead.”Emmeline’s jaw dropped and her disbelief was written all over her face. “Are you serious right now?”The waiter returned at that moment, carrying a tray with the milkshake. The large glass was placed carefully between them, the whi
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-09The Billionaire's Sinful Affair CH.234
Emmeline stood frozen in the middle of the living room.“Richard called earlier to inform me you insulted him in front of everyone. He claims you’ve been conspiring with one of your neighbors to set him up. And now, he’s threatening me. He said if we support this divorce, he’ll have his father dissolve our partnership.” her father’s voice was cold and sharp.“You should’ve at least told us what you were planning,” he continued. “Instead, you’ve thrown us all into this mess without warning! Do you even understand the consequences of what you’ve done?”“You should’ve talked to us first,” Emile’s tone came softer but no less firm. He stood by the window, his hands in his pockets, his jaw tight. “You’ve put us in a difficult position, Emmeline.”Emmeline’s fingers tightened around the handles of her suitcases, her knuckles turning white. Her father’s words stung, and her brother’s calm rebuke only added to the weight pressing down on her.For a moment, guilt flickered in her mind, but it w
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-10The Billionaire's Sinful Affair CH.235
Emmeline’s room was exactly as she had left it. The soft pink walls, the neatly arranged bookshelves, and the faint scent of lavender from an old candle on her desk all felt familiar, yet distant. It was as though the room belonged to someone else entirely.She dropped her suitcases near the door and stumbled toward the bed, collapsing on it face-first. Her arms crossed over her head, shielding her from the world.Why did she feel so disappointed? She had expected their reaction, had known deep down that they wouldn’t stand by her. Yet, the weight of their rejection still crushed her.Their hearts were made of stone, stone that never softened.Tears pricked Emmeline’s eyes no matter how hard she tried to hold them back. The dam broke, and tears came in waves, soaking her pillow.How could two parents love money more than their daughter? How could they sacrifice her so easily for their own gain?Emmeline’s sobs grew stronger though swallowed by the pillows.“What am I going to do now?”
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-11The Billionaire's Sinful Affair CH.236
Emmeline woke up early the next morning to get ready for the meeting. She choose a beige blouse tucked into tailored trousers, paired with a long brown coat.She wanted to look professional yet comfortable. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she stared at her phone, waiting for Zavian’s message.Finally, “I’m outside.” His message came.Emmeline’s heart fluttered as she jumped to her feet. “I’m coming down right away,” she typed back. “I just hope my mother doesn’t get in my way.”With that, she grabbed her bag, slung it over her shoulder, and left her room quietly. To her relief, the house was still silent. Her mother must still be asleep.She slipped out the front door, closing it softly behind her and let out a sigh of relief.“Looks like I’m lucky today,” Emmeline murmured.Taking the elevator to the ground floor, she stepped out into the crisp morning air.Her excitement boiled over when she immediately spotted Zavian’s car parked by the curb and her steps quickened.‘Why do I feel l
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-11
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Brody’s attention shifted to Yuna with an almost predatory focus. The slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth suggested he knew exactly how damaging the doctor's testimony had been to the prosecution's case.Yuna’s frustration was evident in both her expression and the defeated slump of her shoulders. The case that had seemed so straightforward was unraveling before her eyes, and there was little she could do to stop it.After Dr. Ross was escorted out, Brody moved to the center of the courtroom with confident strides.He stood facing the three-judge panel, reflecting complete confidence in his position that lent him an almost theatrical presence as he prepared to deliver his argument."From what the doctor said, we can safely conclude that the marriage of the two parties was not consummated.” His voice carried easily through the hushed courtroom, commanding attention from every corner.He gestured briefly toward Emmeline, drawing all eyes to her momentarily before continuing
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The courtroom remained utterly silent as the weight of Dr. Ross's revelation settled over the assembled crowd.Brody knew this was the perfect moment to press his advantage."Dr. Ross, I'd like to clarify a few points about your testimony," he said. "When Mrs. Maine came to you for this examination, what was her emotional state?"Dr. Ross's expression softened slightly. "She was visibly distressed. Anxious. Her hands were shaking when she filled out the intake forms, and her blood pressure was elevated beyond what I'd expect from routine appointment nerves." Emmeline was stunned. She never expected Dr. Ross to lie so smoothly for her sake."And did she explain why she suspected her marriage had not been... consummated?" Brody’s next question snapped her back.He carefully choose his words to maintain professional decorum while ensuring the jury understood the implications."She didn’t say," Dr. Ross replied."And in your professional opinion," Brody continued, "Would these behaviors
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The brief interval that followed Judge Harrison's order was filled with the whispered conversations as spectators discussed the unexpected developments among themselves.The low murmur created a background hum throughout the courtroom, punctuated occasionally by a sharp intake of breath or a muffled exclamation as someone shared their theory with a neighbor. Several journalists scribbled furiously in their notepads, while others leaned toward colleagues, exchanging hushed speculations about what this new witness might reveal.Emmeline could feel Richard's eyes boring into her from across the room, his gaze heavy with anger and humiliation. His shoulders were squared defensively as though preparing for a lethal blow rather than testimony. The muscle in his jaw twitched visibly even from this distance, betraying the tight control he was exerting over his emotions.Brody remained standing as he waited for the witness to arrive. He adjusted his tie with ease, the gesture betraying none o
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A wave of shock rippled through the courtroom at Brody's unexpected revelation.The effect was immediate and electric, as though a live current had suddenly coursed through the room.Mouths fell open, eyes widened, and a collective intake of breath seemed to momentarily suspend time itself. Even the Judges appeared momentarily stunned, their normally impassive expressions slipping to reveal genuine surprise. Then the room fell into a stunned silence as all eyes pivoted sharply to stare at the defendant.Emmeline felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment at the gazes directed at her, this time with undisguised curiosity and surprise.Richard sat frozen at the prosecution table, his eyes bulging with disbelief and mounting horror as the implications of what had just been revealed sank in.His knuckles turned white as he gripped the edge of the table until the veins in his temples visibly pulsed with each rapid heartbeat.Yuna stared across the courtroom with an expression that cycled rapi
The Billionaire's Sinful Affair CH.282
Brody returned to Emmeline's table, his shoulders squared with confidence. Though his expression remained professionally neutral for the benefit of the court, there was an unmistakable energy radiating from him—the triumph of an attorney who knew he'd just scored crucial points with the jury."That went better than expected," Brody whispered as he settled into the chair beside Emmeline, his voice low enough that only she could hear.Emmeline shifted in her seat. Beneath the table, hidden from the watchful eyes of the judge, jury, and her soon-to-be ex-husband, she flashed Brody a quick thumbs-up. Relief softened the tense lines that had been etched around her eyes for weeks."You're brilliant," Emmeline murmured with genuine appreciation warming her voice. "The way you handled that recording... I never thought..." She trailed off, unable to fully articulate how it felt to finally have someone believe her… to have her truth laid bare before the court after months of suffering in silence
The Billionaire's Sinful Affair CH.281
Brody handed the recording to the court technician, then stepped back to stand beside Emmeline.He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder as the technician inserted the memory card into the courtroom's audio system.The weight of his palm provided a small comfort as Emmeline braced herself for what was to come.Her heart hammered against her ribs, each beat a reminder of what she was about to relive while the courtroom seemed to hold its collective breath.The tension was thick enough to slice with a knife as everyone waited for the recording to begin.A moment of tense silence fell over the courtroom before Richard's voice suddenly filled the space."You think you can just leave me? After everything I've done for you?" Richard's recorded voice growled through the speakers. Each word dripped with venom and threat. "You're nothing without me, Emmeline. Nothing. And if you try to leave, I swear to God I'll make you regret it. No one will want you when I'm done with you." The raw hatred
The Billionaire's Sinful Affair CH.280
Brody approached the witness stand. His expression remained serious but composed as he faced the highest-ranking judicial officer in the country.He maintained a respectful distance from Zavian, adjusting his posture to appear confident without seeming arrogant."Chief Justice Blackthorn, how long have you known Emmeline Maine?"Zavian’s broad shoulders relaxed as he settled into his role as witness rather than judge. His hands rested lightly on the polished wooden arms of the chair. "We've known each other for three months. Since she and her husband moved into the neighborhood."His tone remained matter-of-fact, betraying nothing of the complex relationship that had blossomed between them during those months. Brody nodded thoughtfully, taking a few steps to his right. "On November 10th, your wife received a call from Mrs. Kim, asking for help. You went to the Maine residence together. Is that correct?"His question established the timeline with clinical precision, laying groundwork
The Billionaire's Sinful Affair CH.279
The words sent a jolt through Emmeline's body. Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of Zavian's name, and she found herself gripping the edge of the table to steady herself.The familiar warmth that always accompanied thoughts of him spread through her chest, mingled now with anxiety about what his appearance might mean for her case and for them.The courtroom erupted in murmurs of surprise and confusion. Spectators exchanged bewildered glances, their whispers creating a rising tide of sound that filled the high-ceilinged room.Reporters in the back row leaned forward with sudden interest, pens poised over notepads, while even the typically stoic court officers looked startled by the announcement."Silence in the court!"The judge's gavel came down sharply.Judge Harrison's face bore the stern expression of someone who wouldn't tolerate disruption, no matter how unexpected the development.The murmurs faded quickly under her commanding presence, though the tension in the air remained
The Billionaire's Sinful Affair CH.278
A flicker of a smile crossed Yuna's lips, but it disappeared just as quickly, replaced by her usual mask.The subtle expression might have gone unnoticed by most in the courtroom, but Emmeline caught it. The fleeting glimpse of satisfaction that sent chills through her.The evil woman had gotten exactly what she wanted—an admission that could be twisted to serve her narrative.The realization settled in Emmeline's stomach like a stone as she watched Yuna's manicured fingers adjust her suit with deliberate slowness.There was something almost predatory in the way the prosecutor moved now, like a hunter who had finally spotted a weakness in her prey."Did you hear her scream during the second incident?" Yuna asked, emphasizing each word with precision.Minnie's hands flexed on the table, her frustration boiling over visibly. "Richard was covering her mouth so she couldn't scream and alert the neighborhood like last time," she snapped. "That's what Emmeline told me afterward when I found
