Chapter 6

15:07 Mon , 26 May MT .
6
6
The hall went pin – drop silent , the kind of quiet that made one heart race .
Aria stole a sideways glance , her eyes following the crowd’s to Owen .
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He was all effortless charm – crisp white shirt , tailored black slacks , and sleek leather shoes that caught the light . His sleeves were rolled up just enough to flash a black watch that screamed money , but when Hannah’s voice faded , his easy smile vanished .
His gaze turned cold , sharp enough to slice through the tension .
Arja had pegged Owen as Hannah’s buddy , maybe even her partner in crime to make Aria the bad guy . But in a split second , everything flipped .
“ Why the hell is he picking up my her case ? ‘ she wondered .
“ Miss Gibson , ” Owen drawled , his voice smooth but icy enough to frost the air , “ you trying to run my playbook now ? ”
The words landed like a punch , and a shiver rippled through the room . That polished , heartthrob vibe ? Total bait .
Everyone forgot Owen had scrapped his way to the top of the legal game , with a ruthless edge that could outsmart anyone .
He reined in the intensity , his face all cool confidence , and strolled toward Aria . His shoes clicked on the hardwood , each step screaming control .
“ Ms. Saxon , ” he said , stopping close enough for her to catch a whiff of his cedarwood cologne , “ that wasn’t Mr. Webb you were texting about the case last night . It was me , Owen Shaw . ”
second .
Aria’s breath hitched , her poised mask slipping for a hot second . “ Wait – you’re the lawyer Benjamin was talking about ? ”
He flashed a half – smirk , nodding . “ In the flesh . ”
The room’s attention snapped to one spot .
Mason’s face went cherry – red . Owen had swooped in on the case he’d tossed aside , and though Mason wanted to gloat , the truth burned – he’d totally
blown it .
Neither Owen nor Aria spared him a look , but his cheeks flamed like he’d been dragged on social media .
“ Let’s take this to my office , ” Owen said , his tone all business , no room for pushback .
Aria didn’t miss a beat , her heels clicking as she followed him . Passing Mason , she paused , her voice soft but with a sting . “ My mistake , Mr. Webb . Wrong
guy .”
She glided off , leaving Mason to stew under the barely hidden smirks of their coworkers .
A spark of resentment flared in his gut , all airned at Aria’s retreating back .
He huffed , spinning to Hannah , “ Look , I’d have jumped at your case , but since Mr. Shaw’s got Ms. Saxon’s back , you’re gonna need another firm . ”
Hannah’s eyes darkened , a storm brewing . She’d thought this was a done deal , but Aria had clearly pulled some big – time strings . “ They name – dropped Mr. Hayes ,” she said , voice tight . “ What , is Aria besties with him now ? ”
Liam rubbed his neck , frowning . “ No clue . But with Owen on her side , we’re in for a brutal fight . ”
Hannali squared her shoulders , her voice blazing with grit . “ I don’t care how Aria sweet – talked Mr. Hayes or snagged Owen for her case. We have to win . That money’s for the people , and I’ll be damned if we let her strut off with it . ”
Her verds , fierce and full of heart , set the room ablaze , putting everyone into her fiery resolve .
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A newbie intern , his face twisted in frustration , muttered , “ Everybody says Mr. Shaw’s all about justice . So why’s he playing ball with a scammer ?”
A coworker leaned closer , voice hushed . “ Rumor is Mr. Hayes pulled some serious strings . Shaw’s hands are probably tied . ”
“ One hundred fifty million bucks . The life savings of thousands of families . How does she even do that ? ”
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No one could wrap their heads around how a regular woman like Aria pulled in that kind of cash . Fraud or a once – in – a – lifetime lottery win were the only guesses that made sense , but no one had hit a payday that big in forever .
The intern idolized Owen . He’d signed on with Seacrest Law Firm just to learn from the guy . But this case ? It was shaking his whole worldview .
All because of that Aria chick , sweet – talking Mr. Hayes into roping Shaw into her drama , ‘ he fumed , shooting a bitter scowl at the office door .
Inside , the room was quiet as a tomb , the only sound the soft flip of pages . Neither of them spoke .
After what felt like an eternity , Owen lowered the file and eyed Aria lounging on the sofa , her gaze drifting somewhere out the window .
“ Ms. Saxon ? ” he said , cutting through the silence .
Aria blinked , snapping back to the moment . “ Whoops , spaced out . What’s good ? ”
Owen held up a prenup , pausing for a beat . “ This deal’s no good for you . It’s locked tight . Even if Liam’s stepping out , you’re not getting a single penny . ”
She’d come ready for war – almost too ready . She even had proof of Liam’s cheating , neat and tidy .
Owen had handled plenty of divorce cases , but this was a new one . Aria wasn’t just walking away empty – handed ; she was torching a couple billion like it was nothing . He’d never seen that before .
“ I don’t give a damn about his stuff , ” Aria said , her voice cool as ice . “ I want this divorce done , my shares safe , and , if I can pull it off , one – point – five billion in my pocket . Cole Group’s about to tank anyway – those shares are gonna be worth peanuts soon . ”
Her eyes were steady , almost eerily calm . No rage over her husband’s betrayal , no bittern
This whole courtroom drama might as well have been a quick coffee run .
If Owen had only seen the prenup , he’d have bet Aria was crazy in love with Liam .
But one glance at her icy , unbothered vibe ? Yeah , love wasn’t in the picture .
about missing out on his fortune , no hint of a broken heart .
Owen stayed all business , keeping it smooth . “ Working this out on the down – low would’ve been the easiest , sneakiest move , but the way things are going ? We’re stuck duking it out in court . ”
He pulled a contract from his desk , slid it her way , and flipped a fancy black pen toward her . “ Ms. Saxon , just sign this retainer , and I’ll handle all the Lawyerly nonsense with the other side . You won’t have to lift a finger . ”
Aria didn’t even flinch . She grabbed the pen and scratched her name across the page .
“ You’re not even gonna peek at it ? ” Owen asked , cocking an eyebrow .
She shot him a look , cool as ice . “ Benjamin says you’re legit . That’s all I need . You’re not dying to know where I got the money , are you , Mr. Shaw ? ”
Owen flashed a laid – back grin . “ Nah , doesn’t matter where it came from – it’s not gonna tank our case . People only care about the shiny surface stuff anyway . Long as your conscience is clear , Ms. Saxon , we’re solid . ”
Two years back , the Saxon family’s true – and – fake heiress scandal had been all anyone could talk about , ripping open a twenty – year – old secret .
Logan Saxon , the family’s big shot , had gone missing in a mudslide while on a business trip . His wife , Zoe , didn’t listen to a soul and went searching for him , only to go into labor early on some barkroad . In a panic , she wound up at a podunk hospital , where she had a baby girl .
When the storm passed , Logan was pulled to safety and ended up at the same hospital .
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The Saxons were convinced their little girl was a good – luck charm , spoiling her rotten and naming her Silvia .
Fast forward twenty years , a random accident flipped their world upside down : Silvia wasn’t their kid .
Shell – shocked , the Saxons dug into it and found out their real daughter had been swapped at birth with some farmer’s baby .
They didn’t waste a minute , tracking down their biological daughter , renaming her Aria , and bringing her into the fold .
But in a total plot twist , Aria up and married the Cole Group’s golden boy just a month later . Meanwhile , Silvia stayed put with the Saxons , still their pampered princess , living her best life .
Owen never doubted Aria could scrape together 150 million . She’d already pulled off the impossible , yanking the Cole Group back from the grave and proving she was a total boss . Half a billion ? That was just pocket change for a woman like her .
As Aria stepped out of the law firm , her phone lit up with a buzz . The screen flashed one word : Mom .
She stared at it for a hot second before answering . A soft , nervous voice came through . “ Aria , you and Liam … you’re really calling it quits ? ”
“ Yup , ” Aria said , her tone flat as a pancake .
“ Think you could swing by the house ? ” the woman asked , sounding like she was walking on eggshells .
“ No prob , ” Aria shot back , keeping it short and sweet .