Chapter 46
Confident that their marriage ties would find them even in divorce, Austin dared Country to sue him
The old mansion, once Courtney’s pride, was gone–it was sold, a fact that couldn’t be changed. A lawunit would only drag things out, and he’d have the best lawyers on his side while Courtney was alone.
was fuming, daking with anger at Austin’s low, bullying tactics and feeling utterly alone in this battle.
Seeing her shake, Austin felt a pang of guilt. “Courtney, please, I was just venting, I wanteil you to hear me out. Back when the Lewis family was on the brink. Vera got hurt saving me, and besides Phoebe, she can’t have any more kids.”
He added. “You always say we should be grateful, and that money isn’t everything, so I helped them to repay that debt of gratitude”
Courtney’s vision blurred with rage because of Austin, furious at her own silence, and she rugged at her hair in frustration. The stress was too much. and her emotions were in chaos. She clutched her hair, crouching down to slap herself repeatedly.
Sbe kösen Mark had laid down his life to bring her back, not so she could be walked all over. That here she wan, voiceless, itching to let Austin suffer and rip into him.
Courtney winted to scream, to let out all her fury, but nothing came out. She despised her own powerlessness.
Then Lorraine arrived, with her husband Carl by her side. “Courtney!” Lorraine dashed over panic–stricken, pulling Courtney into a hug. Her eyes welled up with tears as she said, “Courtney, Im here. I’ve got you. Don’t be afraid.”
Carl frowned at Austin, saying, “Mr. Gilbert, Courtney can’t take any more stress. Please leave.
Tm her husband, Austin snapped back Tl take her away
“Mr. Gilbert” Carl warned, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Austin mumbled, “I’m sorry” With a final, reluctant glance at Country, he turned to leave.
Courney found it all so fron
so ironic–he could be so cruel and then pretend to be sorry
“Courtney, Austin has lost his mind. You can’t have any feelings for him anymore. He’s not the Austin you knew anymore.” Lorraine said, her anger palpable.
On her way, she’d overhead Carl on the phone, learning that Austin had brought the reporter, lawyer, and police to all stops to paint Courtney as the guilty party in their marriage
Courtney signed. “Austin said be annulled his marriage with Vera.”
= Courtney, pulling out
“Are you still holding out hope for him?” Lorraine asked Courtney nervously
Courtney thook her head and continued signing “That means Vera is the mistress now, and her daughter, an illegitimate child
“Courtney, I’m sorry, but when I came, I checked with the courthouse. Austin retained custody of Phoebe, and you might not know this, but this little girl, Phoebe, was initially registered under your and Austin’s names, which means….”
Austin’s manipulation made Phoebe his and Courtney’s daughter on paper. If the de facto custody relationship was established, or if Courney never found out, then after her death. Phoebe would have a claim to Courtney’s inheritance
Courtney looked at Carl in shock, chilled by Austin’s calculated moves, realizing he’d been sure she would die from the start.
“What are you going to do, Courtney?” Lorraine asked sotily, worried about Courtney’s state.
Numbly shaking her head, Courtney straightened, leaning on the door frame and signing. “I’m going to call the police.” She refused a daughter under her name, she would reinove Phische from her records
Tl go with you” Carl said with a god
Churry continued to sign. “Today’s Friday; Austin and Vera will definitely pick Phoebe up from the nursery together.”
Lorraine nodded nervously and asked, “Courtney, what are you planning to do
10
acknowledge
“Phoebe is the soft spot for both Vera and Austin. Em going to force Austin to divorce me” Courtney took a deep breath and continued signing “Lorraine, do you know any lawyers Fris going to sue Austin?
Lorraine wiped away her tears excitedly. “Til find one for you. Carl Lisows some lawyers. Don’t worry!
With red eyes, Courtnicy lowered her head. She would not back down anymore, not with Austin and Vera resorting to kidnapping, framing, and defamation—they had crossed every line.
1/2
2:47 PM 다
Chapter 46
Courtney was led away by Carl and Lorraine, and Hayden, staying out of sight in the alley, scowled and cursed under his breath
If his mission to catch Lucas and expose the nation’s spies wasn’t paramount, he’d make certain every person who’d wronged Courtney was out of Hemsburg for good
Hayden whipped out his phone and called Carl. “Carl, keep an eye on Courtney. I’m getting Zach on her case as her lawyer. Tell her he’s an old friend of yours. I’m not leaving this to anyone else,” he said, his voice tight with urgency.
Carl glanced back, cast a quick look down the alley, and nodded. “You should stay clear of Courtney until her divorce is final. We can’t give Austin. any leverage.
Hayden gritted his teeth, clearly frustrated but acknowledging the plan. “Understood.”
After the call with Carl ended, Hayden dialed Zach. “Whatever it takes, I need you to get me the apartment across from Courtney’s”
He couldn’t stay with her, but being her neighbor wasn’t illegal. He was determined to shield Courtney from any further harm.
“The guys who went after Courtney today are already talking, but their boss is taking the fall. We’re certain, though, this guy’s connected to the Lewis family,” Zach told Hayden
The Lewis family is getting desperate, willing to do whatever it takes to get rid of Courtney for good,” Zach said after a pause, his tone grave.
“Let’s make life difficult for the Lewis family. They re loaded with dirt; let’s leak it to the public bit by bit. Keep them off balance,” Hayden ordered.
Zach inhaled sharply, feeling the weight of the task. This was going to be a public takedown of the Lewis family. Given their history of underhanded dealings, if their secrets were exposed, they’d be in deep trouble
He got the sense that the Lewis family had just made a grave mistake by targeting Courtney, tangling with the likes of Hayden.
