The CEO and the Country Wildflower chapter 26

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The CEO and the Country Wildflower
Chapter 26: The Courthouse Gamble


The tires of Lucas’s car screeched against the pavement as David swerved into the courthouse parking lot. Emelly clutched the folder of original documents in her lap, her knuckles white. Beside her, Lucas’s jaw was set in a hard line, his usual icy composure fraying at the edges. The migraine that had been threatening all morning pulsed behind his temples, but he refused to let it slow him down. “We have ten minutes before the hearing starts,” Lucas muttered, checking his watch. Emelly shot him a sideways glance.


“Plenty of time for you to dramatically burst in and save the day, then.” His lips twitched despite the tension. “You’re insufferable.” “And yet, here you are, relying on me to bail you out,” she shot back, grinning. David barely had the car in park before Lucas was out the door, Emelly scrambling to keep up. They sprinted up the courthouse steps, dodging reporters already swarming the entrance. Leo Brown had clearly tipped them off, ensuring maximum humiliation for York Group. Inside, the hallway was chaos—lawyers in sharp suits, journalists shouting questions, and Leo himself lounging against a wall, smirking. His eyes locked onto Lucas, then flicked to Emelly with a mocking tilt of his head. “Cutting it close, aren’t you, York?” Leo drawled. “Too bad your little assistant won’t be able to sweet-talk you out of this one.” Emelly rolled her eyes.


“Oh, please. You couldn’t forge a document well enough to fool a kindergartener.” She waved the folder. “We’ve got the originals. Game over.” Leo’s smirk faltered, but he recovered quickly. “You think the judge will care? By the time this gets sorted, the damage to your reputation will be irreversible.”


Lucas stepped forward, his voice dangerously low. “You’re done, Brown.” Before Leo could retort, the courtroom doors swung open, and a bailiff called for order. The hearing was starting. Inside, the judge—a stern woman with sharp eyes—barely glanced up as they hurried to the defense table. York Group’s legal team looked relieved but tense. Across the aisle, Leo’s lawyers were already laying out their case, painting York Group as fraudulent and untrustworthy. When it was their turn, Lucas stood, his presence commanding the room. “Your Honor, we have irrefutable proof that these allegations are based on fabricated evidence.” He handed the folder to the bailiff, who passed it to the judge. As she examined the documents, the room held its breath. Emelly nudged Lucas’s hand under the table, her fingers brushing his. The contact sent a jolt through him—not just the usual relief from his migraine, but something warmer, steadier. He didn’t pull away.


Finally, the judge sighed. “These discrepancies are undeniable. Mr. Brown, your legal team will need to explain how these falsifications came to be.” Leo’s face darkened. “This is a setup! York’s people obviously doctored those files—” “Enough.” The judge cut him off. “Case dismissed. And Mr. Brown, I suggest you reconsider your tactics before wasting this court’s time again.” The gavel slammed, and just like that, it was over. Outside, the York Group team erupted into relieved chatter, but Lucas barely heard them. He turned to Emelly, who was grinning triumphantly. “Told you we had him,” she said. Lucas exhaled, the weight of the last twenty-four hours finally lifting. “You were… impressive.” She blinked.


“Did the great Lucas York just give me a compliment?” “Don’t let it go to your head.” She laughed, and the sound did something strange to his chest. Before he could analyze it, Jane and Tony came barreling toward them, Jane throwing her arms around Emelly. “You did it!” Jane squealed. Tony clapped Lucas on the shoulder. “Nice work, boss.” Lucas nodded, but his attention was still on Emelly, who was now teasing Tony about his “heroic” role in their plan. The sunlight caught the gold in her hair, and for a moment, Lucas forgot about the lawsuit, the company, even his ever-present headache. Then his phone buzzed—a message from Linda. “You might have won today, but you’re not untouchable. Watch your back.” His grip tightened on the phone. The fight wasn’t over.