Chapter 71 Chapter 71. Betrayal at Lycan Court
The judge asked, “What about the division of property?”
Zoria replied, “I don’t want a single dollar from him.”
The judge turned to Zephyr. “Does the defendant have any objections?”
Zephyr still wore that faint, unhurried smile, as though everything was unfolding exactly as he had anticipated. He cast a glance toward Seven.
Seven cleared his throat lightly, adjusted the metal-framed glasses on his nose, and spoke with sharp clarity. “The emotional relationship between the two parties has not broken down. The plaintiff’s reason for requesting the termination of the bond involves a large amount of assets.”
Zoria frowned. Assets? She had been with Zephyr for so many years and had never once made him spend money on her. On the contrary, she had nearly given up everything for him. And now she was being accused of fighting him over property?
Seven continued his explanation as he submitted documents to the judge. The materials showed that during this period, Zoria had transferred a massive sum of money—seven hundred million dollars in total—into Valor Pack.
The staggering figure sent a shock through the entire courtroom. Everyone turned to look at Zoria, their expressions completely changed.
No wonder she had said she did not need a single cent. It turned out that seven hundred million had already been transferred. And that money had gone straight into Valor Pack. Their gazes slid toward Evander, who was standing beside Zoria, the implication unmistakable.
"You’re talking nonsense!" Zoria’s face went deathly pale. She clenched her teeth, her whole body trembling beyond her control.
The judge cleared his throat lightly. "Order in the court."
Seven continued calmly, "The witness is also present."
Zoria followed his line of sight and saw Juliette step forward toward the stand.
Seven said, "This is the witness."
Zoria was shaken, and then she let out a bitter laugh. If she still could not understand what was happening at this point, then she really was a fool.
"Your Honor, I am Zoria’s mother."
So Zephyr had set the trap right here, all along. Zoria could not hear a single word Juliette said. It was only when the judge spoke again that she snapped back to herself. A bitter smile hung on her face, one that made everyone feel she had already fallen into complete despair.
The judge asked, "Plaintiff, do you have anything else to say?"
Zoria clutched the fabric over her chest. The cloth crumpled and twisted, just like the heart pounding inside her.
She opened her mouth, her voice hoarse and hollow. "They’re lying."
Juliette suddenly turned to look at Zoria. Ignoring the grief in her eyes, she spoke gently, as if offering kind advice. "Zoria, you were wrong. If you’ve made a mistake, then you should accept it obediently. Zephyr has treated you so well. Even after he found out you transferred seven hundred million, he didn’t blame you and still wanted to continue living with you. Don’t think about cutting the bond with him anymore. Be good and go back to his side."
Zoria could not help laughing. Her eye sockets burned, yet the tears refused to fall. Her ears rang, and patches of darkness collapsed before her eyes.
Zephyr’s true intention had never been to threaten her with Valor Pack or with her mother. What he wanted was to see, with his own eyes, the moment she was betrayed and abandoned.
He wanted to watch her step into one muddy pit after another, until she finally plunged straight into the abyss of hell.
The blood in Zoria’s body surged violently, her chest hurting so badly she could barely breathe.
Looking at it now, her lawsuit to sever the bond had been nothing more than a farce with a clear beginning and end. In the end, the judge dismissed Zoria’s claim.
This outcome had long been within Zephyr’s expectations. But for Zoria and everyone else, it was beyond imagination. No one had expected Zephyr to make such a move. Just to avoid severing the bond, he did not hesitate to have Faye deny their relationship, accept the loss of seven hundred million, and even drag Juliette in to perform this entire play.
Evander was livid, his face pale as he was about to step forward and argue, when Juliette had already walked up to them. There was not a trace of guilt on her face. She did not even spare Zoria a glance.
"Evander, Valor Pack is about to go bankrupt. Do you really have the time to make trouble here? Your father was so angry he was hospitalized. Aren’t you going back to see him?"
"Auntie Juliette…"
Juliette strode straight ahead, her hand clamping tightly around Evander’s wrist as she dragged him away without the slightest hesitation.
"Ms. Zoria, we’ll take our leave now." The lawyer glanced at Zoria, shook his head helplessly, packed up his things, and left. At this point, there was no meaning in staying any longer.
The corner of Zephyr’s lips curved into a smile tinged with victory as he slowly walked over to Zoria’s side.
His voice was low, gentle to the point of falsehood. "Come home with me, Zoria."
Zoria’s chaotic mind finally cleared a little. She lifted her head, her eyes red. "Zephyr, why won’t you sever the bond with me?"
Zephyr slipped a hand into his pocket and took out a small box. Zoria’s gaze instantly fixed on it, a familiar feeling rising within her.
When Zephyr opened the box and revealed the ring inside, Zoria finally remembered. It was the pair of rings she had once chosen with joy years ago, a symbol of the life bond between her and Zephyr.
Zephyr took the ring, one hand clamping around Zoria’s ice-cold fingers. He almost forced her fingers apart, then roughly shoved the ring onto her ring finger.
He leaned close to Zoria’s ear, his low voice whispering like a hunting beast. “Why do we have to sever the bond? I’m still waiting for you to bear my child.”