“They’ll all arrive together at the scheduled time. Don’t worry.”
“Make sure nothing traces back.”
“Relax,” Nash chuckled. “You worry too much. Just focus on your hearing today. I’ve got the rest.”
Leo ended the call and slipped the burner phone into the deep pocket of his suit jacket. He felt nervous, but significantly more centered than he had when he woke up. Today was the first real step in systematically dismantling James Williams.
***
Two hours later, Leo walked into a private conference room at the county courthouse for the summary judgment hearing regarding James’s alienation of affection lawsuit.
It was deeply satisfying to watch James’s meticulously crafted narrative unravel in real time.
James’s attorney attempted to argue that Leo had intentionally interfered with the marriage, causing Olivia to abandon her home. But when pressed by the judge for actual, admissible evidence, the argument crumbled. James had built his entire case around implication, corporate gossip, his own bruised ego, and the simple fact that Olivia had sought shelter at Leo’s house after leaving. He had absolutely zero proof that Leo had interfered in the marriagebeforeJames had actively destroyed it himself.
Worse for James, his star witnesses had completely defected.
Hannah, Claire, and Sophie had initially been subpoenaed, but once they learned the truth about Amanda—and once they realized how a James had tried to manipulate them—they vehemently refused to testify in his favor. In fact, Leo’s attorney casually mentioned that the women were currently exploring a civil claim for defamation and slander, furious that James had misrepresented their private conversations to damage Olivia’s reputation.
James sat at the plaintiff's table, his face a tight mask of fury and profound humiliation as the judge formally dismissed the alienation of affection claim against Leo due to a complete lack of evidence.
Leo felt a wave of relief wash over him as he walked out of the courthouse, but it wasn't a clean, euphoric victory. Winning this motion did not undo the profound trauma Olivia had suffered. It didn't solve the financial hurdle in the divorce.
But it neutralized one of the weapons James had aimed at them.
***
When Leo walked through his front door that evening, he was exhausted, his tie loosened, the events of the day still buzzing in his head.
Olivia was waiting for him in the foyer.
The second she saw his face, she rushed forward and threw herself directly into his arms.
Leo caught her, wrapping his arms around her waist, burying his face in her hair as he lifted her off the floor. Her relief was palpable, vibrating through her entire body.
Before he could even set her down, Olivia framed his face with her hands and kissed him.
Leo thought he would never, ever get used to the feeling of Olivia’s mouth on his. No matter how many times it happened, some deep, bruised part of his soul still reacted like he was being handed the impossible. He kissed her back, his hands gripping her hips tightly, soaking in the sweet, breathless desperation of it.
Olivia pulled back, her cheeks flushed, her chest heaving. "I'm sorry," she gasped softly. "I couldn't help it."
They had made an agreement. A smart, rational agreement not to keep kissing until everything was fully resolved, until the divorce was final, and Olivia could think about them with an entirely clear mind.
They both knew it was the right choice. They also both knew they were failing at keeping it.
They kissed after long hours in the kitchen testing her recipes. They kissed when they sat just a fraction too close on the couch watching movies. They kissed after talking for hours in thedark, stopping only because the silence between them became too heavy to ignore.
Leo smiled, his thumb tracing the curve of her lower lip, and kissed her again. "One battle is done," he murmured against her mouth. "Now we just have to crush him in your divorce."
Olivia’s relief faded slightly, a shadow of fear crossing her beautiful eyes. "I'm still so scared, Leo. We still don't have proof about the documents and the signatures. If James convinces the judge I signed them willingly..."
Leo kissed her forehead, holding her tight. "Trust me, Liv. I'm working on it."
***
Olivia
Olivia leaned against the kitchen island, a small, amused smile playing on her lips as she watched Leo attempt to frost her competition cake.
