When I saw Chloe again at the second hearing, she looked destroyed.
Her face was ghostly pale.
Dark circles shadowed her eyes.
She seemed utterly broken.
Her lawyer barely put up a fight.
He offered weak defenses that crumbled instantly.
The judge's ruling was severe.
Chloe was ordered to pay me fifty million dollars.
She must issue public apologies for three consecutive months.
Outside the courtroom, she shattered completely.
She clutched Sebastian's arm, her knuckles white.
"Sebastian, please! I admit everything! Help me! I can't pay fifty million... you have to save me..."
His voice was Arctic cold. "Then work for it. You'll spend your entire life after childbirth repaying this debt."
Tears flooded her cheeks. "How can you treat me like this? I did it all for love!"
He didn't blink. "Don't insult that word. You're unworthy of it."
Her weeping intensified.
From their conversation, I understood everything.
While I was away, Sebastian had investigated thoroughly.
He uncovered the truth—my complete innocence, Chloe's endless deceptions.
This enormous penalty wasn't just punishment.
It was his twisted way of atoning to me.
I laughed bitterly. "Save your righteous performance. Even without your interference, I would have won this case."
Montgomery Legal was undefeatable, after all.
Sebastian met my gaze, his tone unexpectedly gentle. "Alayna... I apologize. For everything. I was blind for years. Now I see clearly."
Unlike his cold dismissal when I left, his remorse seemed genuine.
For a man like him, that was startling.
He vowed, "Don't concern yourself. I'll ensure Chloe repays every cent she owes you. For every wound she inflicted, she'll suffer twice over."
Knowing his ruthless nature, I believed him.
I studied him closely. "What are you plotting?"
He smiled—a chilling expression that felt dangerous. "You'll discover soon enough."
Dread coiled in my stomach.
My eyes dropped to Chloe's swollen belly. After a pause, I stated coldly, "Frankly, she isn't the true villain here. You are."
"If you hadn't empowered her, if you hadn't armed her and your other mistresses to harm me, none of this would've occurred. You enabled it all. So stop pretending you're some tragic hero. You bear more guilt than any of them."
Pain contorted his features. "You're correct. I should have seen through their schemes much earlier."
"Alayna, once I've dealt with them completely, I'll return to you. You remain my wife. The only Mrs. Harrington."
His tone made my blood run cold.
He sounded completely unhinged.
Like death himself preparing his blade.
And Chloe would be his first victim.
I pressed my lips tightly, offering no response.
They had all crafted their own hells.
Whatever followed was their deserved fate.
After instructing my lawyer to handle Chloe's payment collection, I boarded an international flight that night.
I landed at dawn.
Sebastian waited at arrivals.
He wore a tailored black coat.
The morning light carved his sharp features.
His intimidating presence softened when our eyes met.
As always, his tough demeanor melted into that familiar nervous smile.