Richard's POV The judge turned to the jury. “Ladies and gentlemen, you have heard the testimonies. We will now move to the closing statements.” My lawyer stood up, his face calm and composed. “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have seen the truth today. Richard was set up by Vincent Armitage, who was desperate to cover his own crimes. The evidence is clear, and justice must be served.” The jury deliberated for what felt like an eternity. The courtroom was a sea of whispers and anxious glances. Finally, they returned, and my heart pounded in my ears as the foreman stood up. “We find the defendant, Richard, not guilty on all charges.” A wave of relief washed over me. I closed my eyes, letting out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. The courtroom erupted in whispers and murmurs. Some people clapped, others just sighed in relief. I felt tears sting my eyes as I turned to my lawyer, who gave me a reassuring nod. The judge banged his gavel once more. “Order! Order in the
RICHARD'S POV I had spent a week healing, both physically and mentally, from the hell I had endured in that wretched cell. The bruises had faded, but the determination within me had only grown stronger. Today was the day I would take my first step towards something good, something meaningful. I had a plan, and I was going to make it happen, no matter what.I stood in front of my mirror, adjusting my tie for what felt like the hundredth time. The reflection staring back at me was one of resolve. My suit was crisp, my shoes polished. I needed to look the part if I was going to convince the mayor. I smoothed my suit jacket and took a deep breath. “Richard, you got this,” I whispered to my reflection. “It's time to make a change.”The drive to City Hall felt longer than usual, every step echoing with the gravity of what I was about to do. The building loomed ahead, a symbol of the bureaucracy and red tape I was determined to cut through. The bustling streets of the city buzzed with life
Richard's POV As I pulled into my driveway, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Amelia stood at my doorstep, looking weary and lost. Her usually radiant skin was dull, and there was a sadness in her eyes that tugged at my heartstrings. I killed the engine and stepped out of the car, my mind racing. What could have brought her here? “Amelia?” I called out, trying to mask my surprise.She turned to face me, her shoulders slumping. “Hi, Richard,” she replied softly. Her voice was barely above a whisper, laden with a heaviness that made my chest tighten. “What happened?” I asked, concern lacing my words as I walked up to her. “Come on inside.” She hesitated for a moment but then nodded. I unlocked the door and led her into the living room. “Have a seat. Let me take your coat.” She handed it to me without a word. I hung it up and returned to find her perched on the edge of the couch, looking down at her hands. The silence stretched between us, thick and uncomfortable. “Are you hungry?” I a
When Richard got to work the next day, he made his way through the bustling atmosphere, nodding to his employees until he reached Jenny's office. Jenny, his PA and confidante, looked up from her desk, her eyes widening slightly as she saw him approach.“Morning, Jenny,” Richard greeted, his tone lighter than usual.“Morning, Richard,” She replied with a smile, her voice tinged with curiosity. “You seem… different today. What's up?”Richard returned her smile and leaned against her desk. “Guess who’s back in town?” “Who?” she asked, feigning disinterest as she shuffled some papers around on her desk. “Amelia,” Richard said, watching her carefully. “Amelia? As in… your Amelia?” Jenny asked.Richard nodded. “Yep. It was unexpected, I must say.”Jenny's hands stilled for a fraction of a second before she resumed her tasks, her smile a bit tighter. “That's great news, Richard. Really.” He noticed the brief flicker of jealousy in her eyes but chose not to comment on it. Instead, he shif
Richard sat in the back seat of his luxurious Bentley, staring absentmindedly out the window. His driver, James maneuvered through the evening traffic with practiced ease. Suddenly, he noticed a commotion by the roadside. A crowd had gathered, and voices were raised in anger. “Stop the car,” Richard instructed his driver.James pulled over, and Richard leaned forward. “What's going on there?” James glanced out the window. "Looks like an argument, sir." “Go see what’s happening.” Richard said, referring to his bodyguard. His bodyguard, a tall and imposing figure, stepped out of the car and walked towards the crowd. Richard watched as he approached the scene and spoke to someone. Moments later, his bodyguard returned. “There’s a young woman being accused of theft,” The bodyguard reported. “She claims she’s innocent, but the shop owner insists she stole jewelry.” Richard stepped out of the car, frowning. “Let’s go see for ourselves.”His bodyguard nodded and closed the car door gen
Richard barely had time to settle in the office the next morning before his secretary, Linda, knocked on his door. "Mr. Richard, there's someone here to see you. He says it's urgent," Linda said, looking a bit flustered. Richard frowned. "Who is it?" "It's Alex, Senator Jonah's son," she replied, her voice a whisper. Richard's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Send him in." A moment later, Alex strolled into the office. Tall, with an air of confidence and a smile that seemed permanently fixed on his face, he extended a hand to Richard. "Richard, the man!. Nice to finally meet you after all this time." Richard stood up and shook his hand. "Alex, this is unexpected. What brings you here?" Alex's smile widened. "I heard about the incident at the jewelry store yesterday. Quite the hero, aren't you?" Richard chuckled lightly. "Just did what anyone would do." "Well," Alex said, leaning in a bit, "I'm here to invite you to a masquerade ball I'm throwing tonight. It's in celebration of
A hush abruptly fell over the boutique as Richard stepped in, and the air grew thick with the tension of unexpected recognition. The sugar daddy accompanying the mistress, turned his head to the entrance to know who had walked in—gasped loudly. His eyes went wide, darting between Richard and Amelia, who stood trembling near the back. The salespeople, too, seemed frozen in shock, their eyes wide and mouths slightly agape. Was this really happening, or were they dreaming?The mistress, with her obnoxiously loud lipstick and gaudy jewelry, didn’t seem to grasp the gravity of the situation at first. She sauntered over to Richard, a sly smile playing on her heavily made-up lips. “Richard?” The woman scoffed, disbelief evident in her voice. “You're here? For her?” She gestured dismissively towards Amelia, who stood frozen, her eyes wide with a mixture of relief and anxiety.Richard barely looked at the woman, his eyes fixed on Amelia. The mistress's smile faltered. She must have realized t
AMELIA'S POVI stood in front of the mirror, trying to steady my nerves. My hands shook as I pinned the final strand of hair into place. Richard had actually stood up for me today. The memory of it made my heart flutter. Could things really go back to how they used to be between us?The gown I had chosen for the masquerade ball fit perfectly, hugging my curves in all the right places. It was a deep emerald green, with intricate silver embroidery that caught the light with every movement. My mask, adorned with feathers and tiny crystals, completed the ensemble. I took a deep breath, feeling a cocktail of anticipation and anxiety churn in my stomach.A car horn beeped outside my window. “Right on time,” I murmured to myself, grabbing my clutch and heading downstairs. As I stepped outside, a sleek black limousine waited for me. The driver, a tall man with a polite smile, opened the door.“Miss Amelia, Mr. Richard sent me to pick you up,” he said.I slid into the backseat, the soft le