Chapter 119 Chapter 119
Lianna’s POV
The kiss lingered, it was slow like neither of us wanted to break whatever fragile spell had just wrapped itself around us. His hand slid to the side of my neck, warm and steady, the rough pad of his thumb brushing the edge of my jaw. My breath caught. I hadn’t realized how much I’d been holding myself back until that moment…. how much I’d been pretending not to want this.
When he pulled back just enough to look at me, his gaze searched mine, like he was giving me a chance to stop this before it went any further. I didn’t. I leaned in again, and this time, the kiss deepened. His other hand found my waist, drawing me closer until I could feel the steady beat of his heart against mine. The coffee table pressed into my hip as we shifted, laughter slipping between us when our knees bumped.
“Upstairs,” he murmured against my lips, his voice low, almost hesitant.
“Serena” I mouthed and he sighed. “Let's use the room here then.” He said pointing to the guest room.
We left the wine half finished and the chocolate untouched, our steps quiet as we moved through the dim hallway. The door clicked shut behind us, sealing the world outside. His jacket hit the floor first, then my sweater, each piece of clothing like a silent surrender. The room was warmer here, the faint hum of the heater mixing with the sound of our breathing. His touch was deliberate, not rushed. It was like he was memorizing the shape of me, the small sounds I made when his fingertips traced the curve of my spine.
I felt the mattress beneath me, soft and sinking, as he leaned over, bracing himself on one arm. His lips traveled from my mouth to my jaw, down the line of my neck, each kiss slower than the last, making my skin tighten with anticipation. I threaded my fingers into his hair, drawing him back to me, losing track of where I ended and he began.
It wasn’t frantic. It wasn’t clumsy. It was steady, intense, and so achingly human that I almost forgot to breathe. Every movement was a word we hadn’t dared to say out loud, every touch a confession we’d both been avoiding.
When it finally happened, it was with a kind of quiet inevitability, like we had both known we would end up here from the moment we kissed.
Afterwards, we stayed tangled together in the dark, his arm heavy around my waist, his breathing slow and even against my shoulder. My thoughts about the case should have been loud but it wasn’t. I should have been thinking about the laptop and about everything waiting for us tomorrow but instead, there was only a strange, fragile calm.
I must have drifted off like that, wrapped in his warmth.
When I woke the next morning, pale sunlight was slipping through the curtains. The other side of the bed was empty, but I could hear faint movement downstairs, the soft clink of mugs, the low hum of his voice speaking to someone.
And all of a sudden, the reality settled in in my stomach. The court hearing was only hours away.
And we still didn’t have the password.
We would be standing in court without the one thing that could tip the case in our favor. The laptop sat on the table like a silent reminder of everything we didn’t have.
By the time we arrived at the courthouse, the place was already buzzing. The scent of polished wood and old paper filled the air, mixing with the low murmur of voices and the distant squeak of leather shoes on the tiled floor. My stomach churned with a nervous energy I couldn’t shake.
Inside the courtroom, sunlight streamed in through the high windows, cutting sharp lines across the benches. Our side of the gallery was full with a few reporters, mum, and faces I didn’t recognize but knew were watching for any sign of weakness.
The opposing counsel sat with smug composure, his files neatly stacked, his pen poised like he already knew the outcome. Across the aisle, I spotted Dominic leaning back in his chair with that infuriating half smile. He knew we didn't have it.
The judge entered, robes swishing, and the room rose to its feet before sitting again in unison. The case was called. My heartbeat thundered in my ears.
The first hour was brutal. Their witnesses were polished, their arguments sharp. Every time our barrister objected, it was overruled. My hands twisted in my lap until my knuckles ached.
By midday, I could feel the slow, suffocating weight of defeat pressing in. Every point they scored seemed to push me further into the shadows. I lowered my gaze, my fingers tightening around the edge of the table.
Maybe… maybe this was it. Maybe we’d lost before we even had a chance to fight.
Then, just as the opposing counsel began to press for a ruling, our barrister stood.
“Your Honour,” he began, voice calm but firm, “I must request an adjournment.”
A ripple of surprise moved through the room. Even I looked at him in shock.
The judge’s brow furrowed. “On what grounds?”
“Our client is in possession of newly discovered digital evidence,” he said, choosing each word with deliberate precision, “but due to unforeseen circumstances, it is currently inaccessible. The sole individual with the password is Serena whom we all know has also attested to being a victim of Dominic's abuse but was attacked and as a result lost her memory. We have engaged a forensic expert to recover it, but the process requires additional time.”
The judge’s gaze sharpened. “How material is this evidence to your case?”
“It is potentially decisive,” he replied without hesitation. “We are not seeking delay for the sake of delay, just merely as the opportunity to ensure this court receives the full truth before a verdict is reached.”
The opposing counsel jumped up, objecting that this was a stalling tactic, but our barrister’s voice cut through.
“Your Honour, justice is not served by rushing to judgment without reviewing crucial evidence. The integrity of this trial depends on it.”
The room went still. The judge leaned back, weighing the request. My breath caught, the faintest flicker of hope pushing through the fog of defeat.
After what felt like hours, the judge finally spoke.
“Very well. I will grant an adjournment of one week. Use the time wisely.”
The gavel came down with a sharp sound and just like that, the tide had shifted.
Stanley glanced at me from the row behind, and for the first time all day, I let myself breathe.
This was a miracle.