A few days later, Bruce appeared in court for his first trial regarding the accusations brought against him by his ex-wife and her new husband.Surprisingly, The courtroom wasn't as crowded as Bruce expected. Bruce Smith wasn't popular enough to gain any traction or relevance in the media space. He sat at the defendant's table, keeping a calm posture beside his lawyer, Deborah Crane.Bruce has a team of lawyers capable of ending the case at the snap of a finger, but he chose to use only Deborah to prolong the trial and watch how far Caro would push her limit. Across the aisle, Jake Robinson sat beside Caro, his hand resting protectively on hers. They looked like the perfect couple. Bruce couldn't understand how they met.The Robinson family had assembled in full force. Jake's father, Senator Harold Robinson, sat in the front row, wearing an expensive suit. His wife, Mary Robinson, sat beside him, her eyes fixed angrily on Bruce. They were a powerful family, known for their strong p

After recess, the trial resumed. The courtroom hushed as Bruce walked back through the oak doors. But something about him had changed. The amusement in his eyes vanished; instead, they became cold and calculating. His shoulders were squared, his jaw firmly set, and his eyes sharp and unyielding. Earlier, Bruce was content to watch and see how things unfolded. But now, he was done playing. Deborah leaned in as Bruce took his seat beside her, her voice low and urgent. "What's the plan, Mr. Shepherd? Should I call in the legal team? We can have this case dismissed before—" "Don't defend me," Bruce interrupted. Deborah blinked, stunned. "I'm sorry? What do you mean?" Bruce turned to her, his gaze steady. "I don't need you to prove that the allegations are false. I'll take care of this myself." Before she could respond, the judge banged her gavel, calling the court to order. Bruce rose from his seat and walked to the witness stand, his presence commanding. The judge adjusted her

The courtroom erupted in shock as the judge delivered the final verdict. Jake's smirk disappeared, his face reddening in anger. He turned to glance at his father, Harold Robinson, whose eyes narrowed with rage at the judge. She had betrayed him by favoring Bruce instead. That was a big mistake. She just kissed her career goodbye. After striking the gavel on the desk, the judge blinked as her senses suddenly returned. She glanced down at her hands, then shifted her gaze to the papers in front of her, a brief flash of confusion crossing her eyes. The moment she realized what she had done, she froze into ice. "What have I done?" she whispered softly, her heart pounding against her ribcage. Harold Robinson didn't say anything. Without saying a word, he gestured to his wife, and together they quietly exited the courtroom, leaving Jake behind. Bruce watched them go, his expression calm. He knew the Robinson family wouldn't let this go. They would come after the judge and Caro,

Bruce leaned against his car, feeling the cool metal against his back as he gazed up at the towering walls of the Robinson mansion. Half an hour earlier, he had driven Caro home to reconcile with her husband. Just as he waited for her to return, his phone buzzed in his hand. He glanced at the screen; it was Caro. He answered. "So, how did it go?" Bruce inquired. "Did he ask for a divorce?" "It's alright," Caro said, her voice relieved. "Everything is fine with my husband. He forgave me." Bruce's brow tightened. He had driven Caro here himself, expecting her to return with divorce papers in hand. Both expected Jake's refusal to forgive her court betrayal. Bruce had been ready to fund her new life and to protect her if Jake discarded her. But forgiveness? That was unexpected. "I don't know," Bruce said slowly. "This feels off. Don't you think it's odd he's forgiving you so easily?" "It doesn't matter," Caro replied. "As long as I have my husband back. It's better than being

Jake jumped back, his belt falling from his hand as if it had suddenly turned into a snake. His eyes widened with shock as he gaped at Bruce. "How the hell did you get in here?!"Bruce didn't answer. His gaze was fixed on the welts crisscrossing Caro's arms, on the black and blue bruises already forming around her eyes, and the tears streaming down her face. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with terror.Looking at his ex-wife at this state, something inside Bruce snapped. Anger he never knew he had surged inside him like a violent storm. He turned to Jake, his voice shaking with rage. "You bastard. How dare you beat her?"Jake recovered quickly, his shock giving way to rage. He stepped forward, his chest puffed out and his fists clenched at his sides. "This is none of your business! She's my wife! I can do whatever I want with her! Now get the hell out of my house before I call the police!"Bruce neither moved nor flinched. He walked toward Jake, his footsteps slow and his e