Free Web NovelChapter 158: She Returns His Ring
(One Week Later)
The verdict was reached by the court. All evidence submitted was analysed. While the evidence from Skyla’s team was all original. Doran’s evidence related to Skyla giving information to Zyair seemed doctored and couldn’t be proven original or fake.
But the papers he submitted related to her father’s company being handed over to him tested out as original. The sign matched with her father’s and the papers were old meaning they hadn’t been recently forged. It was a big blow for Skyla.
All of them were present in the courtroom. Skyla with her legal team, Huria and Lawrence. Doran with his legal team and impatiently waited for the court ruling.
Skyla had chosen to wear a red dress today and her fisted palm held the ring Doran had given her. No matter what the decision was, this turbulent marriage which had given her nothing but scars and pain was ending today.
Judge Melone started the proceedings and was handed over the verdict the Jury had reached. Skyla closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her heart drummed frantically, so out of control. Her palms sweaty as she clutched the sides of her dress to keep herself from trembling.
Judge Melone’s voice reached her ears.
"After careful consideration of the evidence presented in the divorce case filed by Skyla Adams against Doran Blakthorn, it is evident that domestic abuse has occurred. This court finds in favour of Ms. Adams. The divorce is granted and Mr Blackthorn is instructed to pay ten million dollars in damages."
A wave of jubilation ran through Skyla’s legal team at the news. Sylvia gleefully embraced a stunned-looking Skyla who stared at the judge with ’DISBELIEF’ written in bold letters across her face.
Her pupils had blasted with shock, was she hearing it correctly? She knew in that instant she wasn’t supposed to glance in his direction but she did.
Something cracked. The nine years of their connection broke with a bang and she felt it severing between them.
Her eyes found him and there was a sea of emotions there brewing a tempest of guilt, regret, anger and possessiveness. His face was contorted in unimaginable pain as he watched her without blinking.
Pity was all she felt for him but there was no remorse, she would never return to him.
Sylvia’s slow tap on her shoulder had her turning her head and diverting her attention from the man she no longer bonded to, no longer belonged to.
Judge Melone read out the rest of the verdict where Skyla couldn’t inherit the company of her father because she didn’t have the proper proof for it and it remained under Doran. But he was ordered to pay her a monthly income from it.
Doran was also given six months of jail time on charges of domestic violence and submitting false evidence related to Miss Skyla Adams.
"We appreciate everyone’s cooperation throughout these proceedings. The court is adjourned."
A loud uproar followed the judge’s words as Huria and Lawrence came running and engulfed Skyla in bone-crunching hugs.
"We did it," they chanted while jumping up and down. Huria had tears of joy streaming down her flushed face.
Skyla was rattled by the decision that she had lost her father’s company to that fiend but at least she was free, like she had always wished to be.
Glumness washed over Doran’s legal team as two police officers approached him with handcuffs to take him away. All that glamour, that arrogance had gone to the dust.
"Give me a few seconds, guys and then we will be out of here," Skyla excused herself and confidently walked over to where Doran was standing. Her face turned emotionless, he didn’t even deserve to see her smiles for he had stolen them so many times.
Everyone silently watched.
She faced him head-on, boring her eyes into his. The man she tried to love but his heart was too cold for her warmth to seep in.
He was in handcuffs now about to pay for all the wrongs he did to her.
"I hope to never see you again and wish you good luck. Try not to ruin someone else’s life, Mr Doran," her voice held disappointment mingled with pity for this man. No derision though, she was better than that.
Extending her hand she quietly placed the ring in his half-opened hand, it sat on his palm and his fingers grazed hers lightly. Skyla was quick to yank her hand away, not ever wanting to be touched by him.
The ring seemed to have branded his palm this time around. Just like it had done to Skyla when he had put it on her nine years ago with the promise to protect and cherish her.
Today she returned his ring, telling him she didn’t need him anymore and she didn’t care.
It hurt, that cold tundra he called his heart pained ruthlessly at her action and he wanted to grab her wrist and take her home.
"Skyla...!" But she had already turned.
Doran desperately watched her confidently stride away from him. His throat ached from the effort to resist calling her out one last time.
That last sliver of hope, that light she brought began to diminish and fade away from his messed-up dark life.
She was stunning in that vermilion dress today.
Red had always been her colour.
Today she didn’t dress for anyone though. She dressed for herself.
’Skyla, I will come for you,’ he whispered to himself as the police led him away in the other direction while she moved in the opposite joining the people who loved and admired her.
A poundage seemed to have been removed from her shoulders, which had weighed her down for years.
Skyla felt like a butterfly, light and beautiful. Ready to roam the world she had missed for long. freewёbnoνel.com
Wholeheartedly thanking her legal team especially Sylvia, they left the courtroom to find the media waiting for them in hordes. Anticipating the outcome.
They began to chant her name, calling her to tell them the outcome of her divorce and all the charges.
"Leave them to me, go enjoy your freedom Skyla. No one deserves it more than you." Sylvia squeezed Skyla’s hands who breathed a thank you to this amazing woman.
Police escorted them and Lawrence got Skyla and Huria out of there and into his car with tinted windows. They sped off before the paparazzi could follow them.
Most of them were gathered around Sylvia now, wanting to hear the outcome of this high-profile case.
"I want to go to my office," Skyla announced with a smile as soon as they were far away from the maddening crowd.
Now there was only one person she wished to see.
The man of her dreams, the man who had liberated her and had set her free.
"On it," Lawrence chuckled with mischief while Huria nudged her in the arm and snickered in her ear.
"Don’t forget to get that kiss now."
Skyla’s cheeks warmed to the same colour as her dress was, there was so much more she wanted now. Her core clenched at the thought of his warm hands woven around her body.
"We will celebrate at big sister’s place today. I will pick you up later. Go meet him, he is waiting for you." Lawrence laid out the plan as he parked in the underground parking lot which had access to only three people.
Skyla nodded with a shy smile and exited the car. Taking the elevator which went straight to the top floor Skyla arrived where he was impatiently waiting for her.
Her heart began to race like a racing horse with the finish line just in sight. She paused outside his one-winged angel door, adjusted her hair, bit her lower lip and then raised her trembling hand to softly knock on it.
"Come in, Sky. I have been waiting for you," the voice silky and dangerously alluring had her insides clenching most tantalisingly.
She dipped the door knob with a frantically beating heart and threw the door open.
