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“I mean, that’s one way to deliver a message,” Judah snickered.

“Shut up.”

“Pop is right though. Just give Nyx some time and space and keep an open mind. I’ve seen you two together. She feels just as strongly about you as you do about her. She’ll come around.”

“I hope so, bruh.”

Because I didn’t know what the hell life would look like for me if she didn’t.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

NYX

“I think, given the newfound evidence provided by my client. It’s safe to say the defendant, Mr. Walker, made several falsehoods in the claim against my client,” my lawyer said after the video I’d recorded of Shane finished playing.

Rather than hash it out in front of a judge, he’d reached out to Jamie’s mother to schedule an arbitration to see if we could reach an agreement before having to appear in court.

Although he assured me I had a good chance of finally putting this fiasco behind me, there was still a grain of doubt embedded in me that things wouldn’t work out the way we anticipated.

Craning her neck, Nina shot Shane a hateful glare. It must have sucked to brag about a man who embarassed you every chance he got.

“Also,” my lawyer continued. “I think it’s safe to say that from your client’s own words Miss Love had no idea he was married. My suggestion is we drop the battery charges down to a class C misdemeanor, and throw out the adultery charges altogether. The restraining order will be revoked and in turn, your clients won’t come within 100 feet of Miss Love at any time.”

“You can’t be serious,” Nina exclaimed. “She came to our home and acted like a wild animal. You should have heard her outside our door.”

“And the fact that your husband allowed you to answer speaks volumes about him.”

“Nyx,” my lawyer hissed, shutting me up before addressing Nina again.“This is all I’m willing to offer. If you’d like to take your chances with the judge, be my guest and we’ll see you in court.”

Shane glared at me, but didn’t utter a word. I could tell from the twitch in his eyebrow that he was pissed but that wasn’t my problem. Had he been a better man, he wouldn’t be in this predicament.

“I need a minute to confer with my clients,” Elizabeth finally said, speaking for the first time since we’d arrived.

Nodding, my lawyer tapped my shoulder and gestured for me to follow him outside.

“Do you think they’ll take it?” I wasted no time in inquiring as soon as we were out of earshot.

“You never know. I’ve seen cases where clients allow their pride to push them to pursue something they know deep down they won’t win. But I highly doubt Elizabeth is willing to risk her reputation on something she feels she might not win. Especially something as trivial as this. Try to breathe, Nyx. It’s almost over.”

That was easy for him to say when it wasn’t his ass on the line. Still, I sucked in a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm until I knew what the endgame was. And it felt like it’d be forever before I did. Whatever was being discussed inside the closed room took well over ten minutes.

I was surprised the floor didn’t have a hole in it from my pacing by the time Elizabeth opened the door.

“We’re ready,” she announced, sending a chill through me.

This was it.

The next stage of my life depended on what would happen when I stepped back into the room. If I could force my feet forward to walk inside. No matter which way things went, I was relieved that after all this time, it would finally be over.

My lawyer and I returned to the table and sat, awaiting to hear what Shane and his wife decided.

“We’re going to accept your offer,” Elizabeth announced.

It was almost as if someone robbed me of my breath. I couldn’t believe it.

“Pending the fine for the misdemeanor is paid, my client is willing to drop all charges and agrees not to contact Miss Love again. I’ll get the agreement drawn up and have it to you by tomorrow afternoon.”

“Are you serious?” I blurted, unable to keep my thoughts to myself.