Chapter 276

Serena's POV

She turned to Spencer and Drew with an irritated expression. "Show some respect."

Spencer shot Quinn a sideways glance. "We're in recess. You're not even the attorney on this case. Why should I listen to you?"

"Could you at least try to be civilized?" Quinn replied, barely containing her frustration.

"How am I being uncivilized? Am I shouting? Someone was physically removed from court earlier-was that me?" Spencer's temper was clearly rising.

The tension between them was palpable. No one would guess they were husband and wife rather than sworn enemies.

Quinn's face darkened noticeably.

Drew tugged at Spencer's sleeve. "Come on, she's right. Let's keep it down. This is still a courtroom. We should maintain some decorum."

Spencer stood up abruptly. "I'm leaving."

"Where are you going? The verdict hasn't even been announced yet," Drew called after him.

"To smoke," Spencer threw back over his shoulder, then added under his breath, "before I'm tempted to hit someone."

An awkward silence fell over the group after Spencer's departure.

Maeve couldn't help but lean toward Drew. "Aren't Spencer and Quinn married?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Drew whispered back, "Their relationship is complicated. Think of it as a marriage of convenience without any real affection. But don't take Spencer's attitude toward Quinn at face value. He's just... trying to get attention."

Maeve looked surprised.

"Just keep that to yourself. Spencer has his pride. Don't call him out on it," Drew cautioned.

"Understood," Maeve nodded obediently.

I caught a glimpse of their intimate exchange and felt a twinge of discomfort. But then I reminded myself that Eleanor had been the one to end things with Drew, so it was only natural for him to move on with his life and find happiness elsewhere.

Still, I couldn't help wondering-where had Eleanor gone? What had really happened to her?

The bailiff entered the courtroom first.

"All rise!" he called out. "The Honorable Judge Wilson presiding."

The judge entered and took his seat at the bench.

"You may be seated," he said, and everyone in the courtroom sat down.

The judge spoke again. "In the case of The State versus Lucas Harrington, I understand the jury has reached a verdict."

The clerk addressed the jury. "Has the jury reached a verdict?"

The jury foreperson, a middle-aged woman in a navy blazer, stood. "We have, Your Honor."

The clerk continued, "Will the defendant and counsel please rise."

Lucas stood alongside his attorney, his face impassive. I watched him from my seat in the gallery, my heart pounding. Even though all signs pointed to a favorable outcome, I couldn't shake the anxiety gripping me.

The jury foreperson handed a slip of paper to the bailiff, who delivered it to the judge. Judge Wilson reviewed it briefly before handing it back to the clerk to read aloud.

I held my breath, my eyes not on the judge but on Lucas, who was looking directly at me. His gaze calmed me.

The clerk asked, "What say you?"

The foreperson held a piece of paper and read firmly: "On Count One, securities fraud, we the jury find the defendant, Lucas Harrington, not guilty. On Count Two, money laundering, we the jury find the defendant, Lucas Harrington, not guilty."

With each "not guilty," I felt a wave of relief wash over me.

The judge nodded. "The verdict is accepted and recorded. Mr. Harrington, you are free to go. This court is adjourned." He struck his gavel once.

As the words hung in the air, enthusiastic applause broke out across the courtroom.

It was genuine celebration, satisfaction at a just outcome.

I exhaled deeply, a profound sense of relief washing over me.

I realized then that my feelings for Lucas ran much deeper than I had been willing to admit to myself. In truth, he had already claimed my heart completely-I had simply been running from this reality.

After this ordeal, I would never push him away again.

"Court adjourned!"

The judges exited first, followed by the rest of the assembly filing out gradually.

Our group left through a separate exit. Outside, reporters swarmed but were kept at bay beyond the courthouse barriers.

I stood in a corridor, waiting for Lucas.

As I waited, my mind raced through everything that had led us to this moment. The lies, the betrayals, the revelations... and throughout it all, Lucas had remained steadfast. He had sacrificed everything-his company, his reputation, his family legacy-all to protect me and bring down those who had threatened us.

By all accounts, he should have emerged by now. Why wasn't he out yet?

Each second felt like an eternity of torment. My heart raced with anticipation, and I couldn't help but shift my weight from one foot to the other, trying to appear casual while feeling anything but.

Spencer couldn't resist teasing me from beside me. "You'll give yourself whiplash if you keep looking back and forth like that."

He was mocking my constant peering down the hallway. I felt a slight flush of embarrassment color my cheeks, but I didn't look away. I just wanted to see him as soon as possible-to confirm with my own eyes that he was okay.

After what felt like hours but was probably just a few more minutes, movement at the end of the corridor caught my attention. My heart leaped, and I unconsciously stepped forward, eyes straining to make out the approaching figure.

Someone emerged, and I tensed with anticipation. My breath caught, only to release in a disappointed sigh when I recognized Kennedy instead of Lucas.

Kennedy walked past us, his stride purposeful and confident. As he passed, he gave me a fleeting glance-so brief that no one else would have noticed it.

I returned to my vigil, more tense than before.

"He'll be out soon," Spencer reassured me, though his own patience seemed to be wearing thin.

"What if something's wrong?" I finally voiced my fear. "What if he's not feeling well? You know he pushes himself too hard."

"Serena, If there were a problem, we'd know. Take a breath, okay?"

I nodded and tried to follow his advice, drawing in a deep breath and letting it out slowly. But my composure lasted only seconds before I was back to peering down the hallway.

Finally-finally-Lucas appeared, walking alongside Dylan. Relief flooded through me with such intensity that I felt momentarily lightheaded. Just seeing him, tall and composed as ever, his dark suit immaculate, his presence commanding even from a distance, made all the anxiety of waiting worthwhile.

"Lucas!" Spencer called out enthusiastically, waving. "Over here!"

Compared to Spencer's excitement, Lucas appeared much more reserved. He walked toward us with that measured pace I'd come to know so well-never rushing, never appearing too eager, always in control. But as he approached, his eyes sought me out, and the intensity in them sent a flutter through my chest.

I stared back at him, drinking in the sight. Now that we were finally face to face, all the things I'd planned to say seemed to evaporate from my mind. The connection between us filled the space where words should have been, speaking volumes in silence.

"You two are going to make the air sizzle with those looks," Spencer joked, breaking the moment. "Alright, alright, we won't intrude on your couple time. We'll head out. Come on, Drew."

Drew, always perceptive, nodded. "Lucas, we should catch up properly sometime soon."

"Yes," Lucas replied simply, his deep voice sending a familiar comfort through me.

"Brother," Maeve said, her voice tentative and soft as she addressed him. "Grandfather has gone abroad now. Mother and I are still at the house. If you have time, perhaps you could bring Serena over. Mother keeps talking about you, she's very concerned. She would have been here today, but she had to deal with some urgent business matters."

"Hmm," Lucas responded with a slight nod, the noncommittal sound revealing his emotional distance from his sister.

Though Lucas had always been somewhat cool toward Eleanor, I had always sensed that he cared for her in his own way. With Maeve, however, there seemed to be a genuine disconnection-as if she were merely a peripheral figure in his life rather than family.

Maeve didn't press further, sensing his indifference. She simply nodded and departed with Drew and the others.

Quinn also bid me a brief farewell before following them out.

Dylan quickly found an excuse to leave as well. "I'll wait by the car, sir."

It was just Lucas and me standing in the quiet corridor.