The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY novel Chapter 20

Chapter 4

The man’s face lit up with sudden joy. “You remember me?”

But the moment he registered the bruises covering my body and the raw, purple marks, his expression went dark.

He turned sharply toward the door, barked, “Get a doctor in here. Now.”

Even with that stormy look on his face, he was striking–tall and commanding, radiating the kind of authority that didn’t need to be announced.

For the first time, I could reconcile the man in front of me with the feared name whispered in Boston’s circles.

This was Lysander Blackwood?

I blinked in confusion and ventured hesitantly, “Sander? Is that really you?”

He turned back to me with a smile. “Jules. You finally remembered.”

Jules. That was what he used to call me.

Before I could process it, Sander was already kneeling beside me and working carefully to untie the ropes.

When he saw the deep red welts underneath, he couldn’t help but blow gently on them, and the ticklish sensation made me flinch.

He looked up at me with reddened eyes. “Does it hurt?”

His jaw clenched with regret. “I had no idea that bastard Theo would do this to you. If it weren’t for your parents, the Harringtons would be nothing right now.”

“It’s only been a few years and they’ve already forgotten everything they owe your family. Ungrateful doesn’t even begin to cover it.”

“If I’d known this would happen, I never would’ve used this plan…”

Seeing actual tears threatening to spill from his eyes, I reached out and tugged his sleeve teasingly. “You’re still a crybaby just like when we were kids.”

“It doesn’t hurt that much, really. And honestly, I should be thanking you. Who knows how much longer Theo would’ve kept stringing me along otherwise.”

Once Sander had calmed down a bit, I finally asked the question burning in my mind.

“You still haven’t explained how you became Lysander Blackwood.”

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The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY

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Chapter 4

I paused, genuinely baffled. “Sander… weren’t you a girl when we were little?”

Meanwhile, back at the Harrington estate, every light in the house was blazing despite the late hour.

Theo was having the most anxious night of his life.

The men he’d stationed outside the Blackwood mansion had reported back seven times already, and each update. made his stomach twist tighter.

Sander had called for a doctor within two minutes of entering the room. Then he’d summoned the physician, famous for treating severe injuries. And then–bizarrely–a gynecologist.

Women had survived Sander’s attention before, but never like this. None of them had needed medical intervention

within minutes.

The gossip channels in their social circle were exploding with speculation about whether “Bianca Moreau” would even make it to sunrise.

Someone had even started a betting pool on how many times the Blackwood estate would call for emergency medical services tonight.

Theo had been restless before, but seeing these messages made it worse, so he shut off his phone entirely as if that might somehow bring him peace.

A delicate hand slid over the back of the sofa and wrapped around his neck.

Bianca’s voice dripped like honey. “Theo, it’s so late… aren’t you coming to bed?”

“This is my first time staying over at the house, you know. I left you a special surprise upstairs…”

The cloying sweetness that usually worked on him now felt like a fly buzzing around his head.

Theo’s brow furrowed slightly as he suppressed his irritation “Didn’t I tell you not to come over? Juliette is coming back tomorrow and she won’t be happy about this.”

“She’s already upset about you going to… Look, just stay away for the next few days so she can cool off.”

Bianca stiffened but pressed on with a pitiful pout. “But Juliette’s not even here tonight…”

“Enough.”

Theo cut her off coldly. “I’m not in the mood. Got it?”

He stood abruptly, and when he glanced back at Bianca’s tearful expression, his resolve wavered for a moment.

He was about to soften–until his eyes landed on what she was wearing.

20:06

The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY

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Chapter 4

His face turned stony. “Who said you could wear Juliette’s clothes?”

The familiar white silk nightgown looked all wrong on Biana, and it stirred something ugly in his chest that sharpened his tone further.

“Do I not give you enough money to buy your own things?”

“Drop the games and get out. Now.”

Theo stormed upstairs, pausing briefly outside the bedroom before veering toward his study instead.

Bianca stood frozen, watching him disappear down the hallway while the household staff’s mocking stares seemed to pierce right through her. She grabbed her coat and fled with her head down, cheeks burning with humiliation.

As Theo reached the study door, his foot caught on something under the edge of the hallway runner.

He lifted the corner of the rug and found a pink diamond earring.

He’d given those to Juliette for her birthday–custom–made, one of a kind. She’d always treasured them.

But the study was down a long corridor from the bedroom and conservatory where Jules usually spent her time. She wouldn’t come this way unless she was looking for him.

And the last time he’d been home was when he and his men had been discussing the plan to send her to Sander.

Remembering exactly what he’d said that day, Theo’s pupils contracted and his face went white.

Jules wouldn’t hold that against him… would she?

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