Chapter 138

A black Maybach screeched to a halt outside the courthouse.

The door swung open as Alexander Kingsley stepped out, his long legs unfolding gracefully. A bodyguard immediately opened a black umbrella, shielding him completely.

Reporters swarmed forward but only captured blurred silhouettes.

"Missed him again!" someone groaned, stomping in frustration.

"Does it matter? Everyone knows what Lord Alex looks like," a colleague consoled. "Wait for Evelyn Sinclair—she's today's main event."

Thirty minutes later, a silver van pulled up.

A fully masked man jumped out first, then carefully helped a young woman in sunglasses and a face mask descend.

"It's Evelyn!" The press erupted into chaos.

Martha Nash followed, arms outstretched like a shield. "Give us some space, folks! Professional courtesy!"

Though restrained by courthouse decorum, the trio still struggled to move forward.

Once inside the lounge, the young woman yanked off her mask. "I was suffocating!"

It was Iris Cooper.

She froze mid-complaint.

Across the room, Alexander stood watching her with glacial intensity, flanked by his lawyer and assistant. The air turned arctic.

"Where is Evelyn?" His voice could freeze hell.

Meanwhile, the real Evelyn Sinclair stepped off a city bus.

Dressed in a plain tee and jeans with a canvas bag slung over her shoulder, she strolled casually toward the courthouse. Reporters milling about didn't even glance her way.

Not until she reached the entrance did a Horizon Media journalist gasp. "Is that—Evelyn Sinclair?"

Cameras snapped up too late, capturing only her retreating silhouette.

"Damn it! Wasted the whole morning!"

In the lounge, Martha's group sat like chastened schoolchildren under Alexander's interrogator's glare.

The door opened.

Eyes locked.

Alexander glanced at his watch first. "Ten minutes to reconsider."

"Unnecessary." Evelyn took her seat calmly.

The closed-door hearing began with two surprises:

The legendary Kingsley Group legal team was absent—Alexander had brought only one attorney.

More shocking? Evelyn had none.

No lawyer in Kingsbury would take her case. Even Julian Ashford's contacts had declined.

"This is unwinnable," one attorney told Julian flatly.

Julian understood Alexander's game—forcing Evelyn out of Horizon Media. Even if the court didn't award the full eight million, the damages would exile her from Kingsbury.

Leave the city? Alexander would never allow it.

Julian's lips curled. If only he'd shown this ruthlessness earlier.

——

"My client's rebuttal evidence."

Alexander's lawyer exuded confidence.

"This alleged 'coat-sharing' photo actually shows Isabella Winslow snatching my client's jacket, with the image capturing the moment he retrieved it."

Surveillance footage played clearly: Isabella grabbing the coat, Alexander reclaiming it.

"The jacket was donated immediately after her use. Here's the receipt."

The judge turned to Evelyn. "Does the defendant dispute this?"

She met the lawyer's gaze. "Late-night meetings at private clubs require more than this to prove innocence."

"That evening, Mr. Kingsley conducted business without encountering Ms. Winslow. Club records and witnesses confirm this." The attorney remained unflappable. "Their paths crossed only upon departure when she seized the coat from his assistant."

Alexander spoke suddenly, eyes burning. "You never investigated properly."

"Any further response?" the judge pressed.

Evelyn shook her head.

So now he knew how false accusations felt.

But had he checked whether she'd waited outside that club that night? Did he know about the despair in that freezing wind? Or how his subordinate's "Get lost!" had shattered her when Sophie was critically ill?

——

"This 'ring-shopping' video actually shows Isabella purchasing jewelry alone. My client bought only this brooch that day."

The lawyer displayed an exquisite dragonfly pin.

Piece by piece, every "smoking gun" in the articles disintegrated.

"Does the defendant refute this evidence?" the judge asked.

Alexander cut in first. "Evelyn, I told you—there was never anything between Isabella and me."

Yet she hadn't believed him. Insisted on breaking up. Even after he disciplined the staff, she refused to return. Now with proof before her, if she'd just yield, he'd settle this instantly.

But if she remained stubborn...

Alexander's eyes darkened. He'd backed himself into a corner. Had he known she wrote those articles, he'd never have sued.

Because regardless of the verdict—

He'd already lost.