10-04
Chapter 73
Sullivan reclined in the backseat of his sleek black sedan, his eyes closed as he tried to snatch a moment of calm before the whirlwind of the day picked up again.
His mind wandered to something Puxton had mentioned earlier–a student who had married her very own Romeo, It made him think of Megan. Had she felt the same flutter of excitement when they had exchanged vows?
“To have and to hold, from this day forward,” he mused to himself.
Sullivan was known for his composure, but lately, thoughts of Megan had sent ripples across his normally tranquil demeanor.
He dialed his assistant, “How’s the situation I put you on?”
The response came promptly. “Mr. Lowry, I’ve made contact with Lawyer Alton! In 12 hours, his flight will land at Borough City Dualstream International Airport. He’ll be ready to tackle the Quigley Group case with his legal team Immediately upon arrival.”
“And what are his odds?” Sullivan inquired, his voice a monotone.
A pause, then, “Lawyer Alton demanded a retainer of two hundred million dollars! He says he’s got a surefire win.”
Sullivan trusted Alton’s capabilities. He ended the call and, despite his intention to rest, he found himself flicking through the photos on his phone until he found one in particular.
It was a photo of Megan.
Taken ages ago while she slept in the early days of their manage when tears often stained her cheeks before she drifted off into an exhausted slumber.
Her face and hair against the stark white pillowcase… it was a vision of innocence and allure.
He hadn’t loved her then, but he’d been compelled to capture that moment. On business trips, alone in hotel rooms, he’d pull out the photo before bed. Once, driven by a mix of longing and frustration, he’d let his desire take over while gazing at her image–a thrill he still remembered vividly.
Sullivan encrypted the photo. As he locked his phone, a cynical thought crossed his mind: all men have their vices. Lust is one no man
can escapeе.
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At nine in the evening, Megan sat on the couch, her gaze fixed on the television broadcasting the news. Chief lawyer Alton was making headlines for his return to the legal world after a stint of philanthropy. Alton’s appearance was nothing short of triumphant, high–profile.
To the reporters, he said with that handsome and stem face, “Fame and fortune are not my primary concerns. For me, the pursuit of justice within the law is my life’s ambition.”
Megan listened, her mind somewhere else. She knew Sullivan wanted her to s
er to see this–to remind her that only he could bring Alton back, that only he could keep her brother out of prison, provided she returned to him. Otherwise, all bets were off.
The next time Alton appeared on TV, it might be with a different narrative altogether. Truth is always malleable in the hands of the powerful.
Her phone rang, cutting through her thoughts. It was Cora, her stepmother, calling with a tremble of excitement in her voice.
*Megan, did you catch the news? Lawyer Alton is back! There’s hope for your brother’s case.”
Her voice softened, “We have to fight for every chance we get. I know it’s hard on you. Your father and I can live more modestly. Once he gets better, I can find work to help out. If your brother is free, everything will start looking up.”
Cora broke into tears, unable to hide her concem for Megan, whom she had watched grow up.
Megan’s expression remained stoic. She didn’t reveal the full extent of the situation to Cora, just murmured reassurances, “Don’t worry, Cora. And tell Dad not to worry, either I’ll make sure Lawyer Alton takes the case.”
Cora’s reply
