Chapter 1: The Courtroom Doors Opened
At my divorce hearing, the judge ruled that I would leave the courtroom with nothing.
My husband stood beside his mistress with a smug expression that made it obvious he thought he had already won.
“We’ll see how you and that baby survive without me,” he sneered.
I bowed my head and swallowed the humiliation, until the courtroom doors suddenly burst open.
A billionaire walked inside, his eyes locked directly on me.
“Without you, my daughter and grandchild will live like royalty.” The smile vanished from my husband’s face at once.
“After examining the prenuptial agreement, this court determines that all marital property, including the residence and corporate assets, remains exclusively under Patrick’s ownership,” Judge Lawson announced.
“No alimony will be awarded.
The respondent is ordered to vacate the residence by 5 PM today.”
The words landed on me like a crushing weight.
I remained perfectly still, both hands instinctively covering my pregnant belly.
My baby, only a few weeks away from being born, kicked uneasily beneath my skin.
At twenty-four years old, I had already spent most of my life without a true family.
I had grown up being moved from one foster home and institution to another.
After marrying Patrick, I gave up my career because he had promised that he would always take care of me.
Now I was seated there facing a future in which I could lose everything before my child had even entered the world.
Across the aisle, Patrick looked completely pleased with himself.
Wearing an immaculate designer suit, he leaned back with the relaxed confidence of a man who believed he had completely defeated his opponent.
Then he turned his attention toward Chloe.
The young mistress sitting close by returned his look with a proud smile.
When the hearing ended and everyone began filing out, Patrick slowly made his way over to me.
“Well, Serena,” he said, amusement visible in his eyes.
“Looks like I was right from the beginning.
Before you met me, you were nothing.
Just a charity case.
And now the court has officially proven it.”
He leaned down until he was close enough that only I could hear his next words.
“Let’s see how you and that b*stard baby get by without my money.
I’ll give you a week before you’re sleeping on the street and crawling back to me for help.”
His grin grew wider.
I couldn’t even summon the strength to respond.
A tear rolled down my cheek.
Then a deafening noise tore through the silence.
BANG!!!
The courtroom doors burst open with tremendous force.
The wooden doors slammed against the walls.
The bailiff jumped in shock, instinctively reaching toward his w*apon before suddenly freezing.
A commanding figure stepped into the courtroom.
Every person inside turned to look at him.
Gavin Rochester.
The billionaire founder and CEO of Vanguard Global.
His appearance seemed to suck every bit of air from the room.
The polished cane in his hand struck the floor with a measured rhythm as he walked forward.
Four highly trained security professionals immediately took control of the exits, while an entire team of corporate attorneys entered behind him.
The atmosphere turned tense and bitterly cold.
Gavin didn’t even glance at the judge.
He didn’t acknowledge Patrick either.
His entire focus remained on me.
Then he stepped directly between Patrick and me.
A barrier.
A shield.
“Without your money?” Gavin repeated, his deep voice carrying across the entire courtroom.
“My daughter and my grandchild will live like royalty.
And as for you...”
His eyes moved toward Patrick.
“By the end of this quarter, your financial existence will be nothing more than a memory.”
Patrick visibly flinched.
All the confidence disappeared from his expression.
His face went pale.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
“Mr.
Rochester?” he stammered.
“There has to be some mistake.
Serena is an orphan.
She was raised by the state.
She doesn’t have any relatives...”
A senior attorney stepped forward.
He placed a thick dossier with gold lettering directly in front of Patrick.
The title printed across the first page left everyone in the courtroom completely speechless:
SERENA ROCHESTER — DNA VERIFICATION REPORT: MATCH CONFIRMED AT 99.9%.
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How will Patrick react when he learns why Gavin came for Serena?
Comment “NEXT” for Part 2.
