Gabriel received a twenty-year prison sentence, and the court finalized their divorce.
Finally, Sophia was completely free from her unhappy marriage.
The trial had ended when Bianca arrived at the courthouse after work. Sophia and Reece exited the courtroom, ready to talk to the media.
The reporters quickly saw Bianca and rushed toward her.
Once they managed to get through the crowd, they took a moment to catch their breath.
“Mr. Barton, your pro bono defense for Sophia was amazing. Thank you so much,” Bianca said earnestly.
This was her first meeting with the famous lawyer. He was just as friendly as she had imagined, wearing a dark blue suit that highlighted his elegance.
Reece looked Bianca up and down, narrowing his eyes slightly. “You’re welcome, Miss Scott. Your name has been quite popular lately.”
Bianca thought her frequent media appearances had made her a familiar name to Reece. She replied with a shy smile, “That’s very kind of you. Are you free tonight? We could have dinner together.”
Reece glanced at his watch and said, “Unfortunately, I have plans tonight. I’m sorry I can’t make it.”
“Is it a date with your girlfriend?” Sophia asked with a smile.
After a brief pause, Reece replied with a soft smile, “Not a girlfriend, just a friend who’s a girl.”
Bianca and Sophia exchanged a knowing glance, sharing a moment of quiet understanding.
“In that case, we won’t disturb your plan then. Maybe we can have dinner together another time,” Bianca replied with a smile.
“Certainly, that would be fine,” Reece agreed before taking his leave.
Sophia moved beside Bianca, watching Reece walk away. “Mr. Barton seems like a great guy. I wonder what kind of woman would catch his eye.”
Bianca playfully teased Sophia, “Oh, look at you. You’ve just gotten out of a marriage, and you’ve already found a good catching guy?”
Sophia playfully elbowed Bianca and said, “Stop it. I’m just curious!”
“Sophia, you have so many good men around you-Michael, Nicolas, and now Reece. You’ve got plenty to choose from!”
Realizing Bianca was teasing, Sophia moved closer and started tickling her. “Enough with the teasing!”
“Alright, alright, I’ll stop!” Bianca laughed, her smile wide.
Sophia stopped tickling her and then looked off into the distance, her voice dropping to a whisper. “What’s so great about Michael, anyway?”
Meanwhile, Dave was busy in his office that afternoon when his phone suddenly rang.
He looked at the screen and saw it was his grandpa, Lucas. Since Lucas rarely called him, Dave’s heart raced.
“Grandpa, is everything okay?” Dave asked.
“Can’t I call you just to chat?” Lucas replied, his tone light and cheerful, easing Dave’s worries.
“Come on, just say it,” Dave urged gently. Lucas was straightforward and knew not to beat around the bush with him. “I’ve invited a friend over for dinner tonight. You should join us.”
Dave glanced at his watch, a bit puzzled. “Who is this friend? You haven’t mentioned them before.”
“This person is very important. You have to come! I don’t care what else you have planned-cancel it. I’ll send you the details later.”
When Lucas gave an order, it wasn’t to be questioned.
Dave rubbed his forehead and replied, “Okay, I’ll be there.”
After leaving the courthouse, Reece got a taxi to the airport.
As he walked to the arrivals area, he checked his watch.
He had been waiting for more than thirty minutes, much longer than the plane was supposed to land. But there was no sign of her.
Reece pulled out his phone and dialed a number. After a few rings, someone picked up.
“Hi, Reece.”
“Hey Skylar, I’m at the airport waiting for you. Are you outside? I don’t see you,” Reece said, stretching up on his toes to look inside.
But the voice on the phone replied calmly, “The plane landed early. I’m already on my way.”
“What?” Reece’s hopeful look faded. He tightened his grip on the phone and asked, “Why didn’t you call me when you arrived?”
“Reece, I told you I didn’t need you to pick me up. I have some errands to run. You can go home now.”
Reece’s expression became serious. “How about we have dinner together tonight?”
“I have plans tonight. I’m sorry,” the woman’s voice was gentle, but her rejection was clear.
Reece wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. He pressed his lips together and finally said, “Okay, whenever you’re free…”
“I’ll reach out when I can. Bye for now.”
Before Reece could say anything else, she hung up.
He heard the beep of the disconnected call and let out a deep sigh.
Later that evening, in a private room at Whispering Mist, a beautiful restaurant.
Lucas warmly smiled as he talked to a woman sitting beside him in a white lace dress.
Her long hair flowed over her shoulders, and she carried herself elegantly. She had a slender figure, her hands neatly resting on her thighs. It was clear she came from a well-off family and had good manners.
Her light makeup highlighted her soft, inviting eyes and friendly smile. She stood out beautifully.
Their cheerful conversation was interrupted when someone opened the door.
The woman looked up, her eyes widening and her expression softening.
Dave walked in wearing a sharp suit that fit him perfectly, exuding the confidence of an experienced businessman.
He was handsome and had a quiet charm that could make any woman’s heart race, and she was no exception.
“Dave, there you are!” Lucas called out with a friendly wave, inviting him to join them.
Dave glanced at the woman next to Lucas and chose a seat a bit away from her.
“Dave, meet Ms. Skylar Larson, the person I mentioned earlier,” Lucas said, happily introducing her.
Dave’s icy eyes softened at the sound of her name, and he looked at her in surprise.
With a warm smile, Skylar said, “Long time no see, Dave.”
Yes, it had been a long time.
Back in the day, when Dave was stuck in the cellar, Skylar rescued him. She used to live nearby but later moved away, and they hadn’t seen each other since.
Dave frowned slightly, confused by her sudden appearance and her closeness to his grandfather.
Lucas noticed the skepticism on Dave’s face. “Skylar is the only child of my friend from the army. I raised her and set her up in the house next to mine. I later sent her abroad for the best education. No one compares to her in knowledge and character. Dave, she returned to marry you.”
Dave’s eyes widened. He turned to Lucas and asked quietly, “Could you repeat that?”