Christina’s POV
Savannah was losing it, pacing around the office like crazy. She’d been begging for hours, almost on her knees by the end.
All that groveling got Eliza Black’s demand cut from two hundred million to fifty million.
Fifty million. The Nyx Collective’s jewelry project didn’t just fail. It beca a total disaster that ate money.
The stress hit Savannah hard. She got sick that sa day and had to stay in bed. Doctor’s orders—no work calls, no emails, nothing.
Violet Lin had to pay thirty million from her own bank account or get blacklisted by everyone in the industry. Her family was rich, but losing thirty million all at once? That hurt. She hadn’t shown up to the office since, probably hiding sowhere to recover.
For a week, work at Nyx stopped completely. People quit their jobs and left letters on Savannah’s desk.
I checked my phone and saw more followers than before. My ssages were full of job offers and interview requests from good companies.
Akira told to focus on the trial. She was right. The jewelry problem was not as important as what was coming next.
Before the trial started, Hannah convinced Priya Sharma to speak in court. She ca to Highrise City with her family after hiding for years.
I had not seen her since high school. We sent texts sotis and I helped her with money, but we never t in person.
When I saw her again, she looked different. She was still small and looked weak, but she seed very quiet now.
Hannah’s team worked with her for two days to get ready for court.
Priya spoke in court and everything went well. The Brooke family did not co. No lawyer ca for them either.
Nobody helped Isobel, so she could not fight back much. The court gave her three years in prison for assault and other cris.
"She should get more ti," I said. I was angry. "Three years? That’s not enough for what she did."
Hannah looked tired. "I know you’re upset, Christina. But this is the best we could do."
"Best? She hurt people and only gets three years?"
Hannah rubbed her head. "I understand how you feel. But the law has limits. We tried to get every punishnt we could." She said seriously, "She will stay in prison for the full ti. I will make sure of that."
"Thanks," I said. I was still disappointed but I knew she tried hard.
It rained that morning. When we left the courthouse, the sun ca out and felt warm on my face.
Priya walked behind down the steps. She held onto my sleeve tightly.
"You’re safe now," I told her with a smile. "You can stay in the Oakwood apartnt until everything is finished. When you get your money, you can decide what to do next. Give so ti to take care of things, then I’ll show you around the city."
She said "Thanks" in a rough voice. Her throat was damaged when Isobel hurt her.
I wanted to go with her to the apartnt, but I saw a black car near the courthouse. Hudson got out of it. He looked very handso in his suit.
"I’ll get you a taxi," I told Priya’s parents. "I need to do sothing."
"Thank you!" her father said.
Hudson stood by the car with flowers. The sun made his dark suit shine. He looked amazing. My heart beat very fast.
Akira said my mate was here. I told her he was not my mate, but my body felt excited anyway.
I walked down the steps to him.
Hudson gave the flowers. "I couldn’t co earlier. How did it go?"
"Three years," I said. The flowers slled nice. "Priya did great. She was very brave."
Hudson touched my hair and moved it behind my ear. "You were brave too."
My heart beat fast when he looked at with his blue eyes. I could feel Lycaon’s power from him.
"Why did you bring flowers?" I asked. I held them tight.
"Wins should be celebrated."
"What if I lost?"
"Then they would help you feel better."
I smiled. "You always have an answer."
"I have lunch ready at La Vache Dorée," Hudson said. He opened the car door. "I ordered your steak and chocolate dessert."
My stomach made a hungry sound. "Then let’s go eat."
Hudson got in the car after and told his driver to go. He watched look at the flowers in my lap.
There was a small card with them:
Dear Christina,
When flowers sleep in cold night,
They wake in spring and grow toward light.
Let dark tis go, let good days co.
Walk forward strong, don’t let dreams stop.
—H.
"Did you write this?" I asked. I was surprised.
"I want to say yes, but soone helped ," he said with a small smile.
"It’s nice. Thank you."
His smile went away. "I told you before. You don’t need to thank for things."
"Right, I forgot that rule." I changed the topic. "The courthouse felt strange. That was my first ti at a trial. When I walked out, everything felt like a dream, but now I feel normal again. I’m glad you sent Hannah and her team. They did great work."
"Glad is the sa as thank you," Hudson said.
"Okay, you got ," I laughed. "But I really am happy about it."
Before he could say more about my words, I leaned forward. "Are we close? I’m very hungry."
Akira said he was trying to take care of like a real mate would. I didn’t listen to her, but I felt warm when Hudson held my hand.
For a mont, this felt right. My fake mate was acting like a real one. He celebrated with and knew what I needed.
I looked at Hudson as he watched out the window. His face was strong and his eyes were serious even when he was relaxed.
Maybe fake things could beco real if you waited long enough.
The idea made excited and scared.
"What are you thinking?" Hudson asked. He saw looking at him.
"Just that Isabella got what she deserved," I said quickly. "And that I’m really hungry."
But as the car moved through the city streets, I kept thinking about Hudson and how the line between fake and real was getting harder to see.
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