AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ve never had any say in the company. Every time I tried to tell Darrian I didn’t approve of a change, he hit me. He made me sign whatever papers were in front of me. How am I to even help manage when I’m not allowed a voice to do so?”
Darrian remained silent, but Judge Rider darted a glance at him.
“So is your wish to help manage the company?”
Was it? She honestly never gave it much thought. Because what was the point when she knew she’d never get past Darrian?
But the last thing she wanted was for Darrian to get his way. To get full control of the company. He’d have to kill her first to do so.
“Yes, Your Honor. I’d like that very much. What I don’t like is to be in the same room as Darrian or alone with him. Whatever you were handed are lies. With further digging and investigating each claim against me, the court would see the truth.”
“Your Honor—”
“Mr. Carrington, I didn’t ask you to speak,” Judge Rider snapped.
Eve almost turned her head to see Darrian’s reaction to being reprimanded but didn’t. She’d lose all the courage she still had bottled up the moment she met his gaze.
“I will continue the order of protection until these allegations made against Ms. Carrington can be verified. I am, however, adding a stipulation that contact can be had between Ms. Carrington and Mr. Carrington concerning the business onlyandwith both lawyers present. No other communication will be allowed. In two weeks, we will readjourn with the full facts and evidence before the court. An impartial company will look into the matter. Neither people on Mr. Carrington’s side nor Ms. Carrington’s side will be in charge. That is all.”
Eve flinched when he hit his gavel, the loud boom filling the room.
Darcy let out a silent breath, then turned to her with a smile. “You did great.”
“Doing what? Looking like a scared woman.”
Darcy frowned.
“You believe those lies about me.”
The frown Darcy wore turned into a fierce expression. The barracuda part of her was emerging. “When did I give that impression?”
“When you tensed next to me.”
“I didn’t expect it, but it doesn’t mean I believe it.”
Eve caught Darrian’s gaze over Darcy’s shoulder, shivering at the smirk coating his lips. He thought he had won. And perhaps he did. In two weeks, she’d find out.
Griffin blocked the rest of her view of Darrian as he walked out of the courtroom. She shifted away when he tried to touch her.
“Eve…”
“She thinks we believe the lies,” Darcy said matter-of-factly as she pushed in her chair and slung the strap of her bag onto her shoulder and grabbed the folders from the table.
The hurt flashed in Griffin’s eyes as his brows burrowed. “I don’t believe a word that man says. I never would.”
God, she knew that. She did. Yet the fear slithering through her veins told her otherwise. Years of doubt and people turning their backs on her couldn’t be erased in one moment.
“I’m sorry, Griffin.” She swallowed hard. “Forgive me, Darcy.”
Darcy sighed, offering a short smile, making her appear less frightening. Eve would never want to go up against her in a courtroom. “There’s nothing to forgive. I understand. We’ll keep repeating that we’re on your side.”
Darcy left first. She was surrounded by the Stuarts, and she didn’t know what to say, or where to look. Because meeting their eyes was too much.
“I think I’d like to go home. Be by myself a little bit.”
“I’ll take you home,” Juliet said before Griffin could argue with her. Eve saw it in his eyes he wanted to.
Juliet led her out of the courthouse; she didn’t look back once to see more hurt in Griffin’s eyes.
