The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY novel Chapter 68

I spent three transformative years in England.

I started in London, but the relentlessly gray weather made me loathe the entire country.

Then I became a nomad.

Since I wasn’t absorbing anything meaningful from my academic program anyway, I just abandoned it entirely.

After wandering aimlessly for several years, I suddenly received urgent news from home that forced my immediate

return.

My exceptional general manager was abandoning ship.

I’d always delegated my father’s company to professional management, but now that he was fleeing, I was forced to return and take direct control.

As someone with an arts background, what the hell did I know about corporate leadership? My brain felt like it was melting during that entire first week.

I thought analyzing financial reports was mental torture enough, but then I had to endure dinner with a collection

of ancient businessmen.

Including my ex–husband.

My former spouse had become even more glacially remote over the years, and devastatingly more attractive.

Everyone at dinner had to carefully read his micro–expressions. I couldn’t fathom how someone from tech had infiltrated our traditional manufacturing ecosystem.

My vice president kept offering whispered introductions. When we reached Kieran, he vaguely described him as “a stakeholder.”

After dinner, I was ambushed in the underground parking garage.

He approached with predatory slowness in a crisp white shirt, his eyes slightly bloodshot from alcohol.

“Aurora, it’s been far too long.”

I calmly retreated several steps. Why did my ex–husband seem to have developed genuinely unsettling energy over the past few years?

“Did you orchestrate our general manager’s departure?”

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He looked at me with performative innocence: “I’m merely a minor shareholder. I don’t wield that kind of

influence.”

I rolled my eyes dramatically. That actually made sense–Kieran never made financially self–destructive moves.

This scenario wouldn’t benefit him whatsoever.

The company had a mountain of crises demanding attention so I had no intention of indulging in nostalgic conversation. Unfortunately, my ex–husband was being aggressively persistent.

“Aurora, as a company stakeholder, I’ve never actually toured our facilities.”

What an incredible coincidence–I’d barely explored them myself.

So there we were in the dead of night, wandering through a depressingly run–down industrial complex.

As I surveyed our surroundings, I kept thinking: holy shit, this place is an absolute dump.

I desperately needed to generate revenue and relocate us to respectable office space.

Kieran kept stealing glances at me while grinning: “Aurora, you got beautifully tan.”

I gave him another exasperated eye roll. If you have nothing intelligent to contribute, silence is perfectly acceptable.

This ex–husband’s omnipresence was becoming genuinely excessive.

I kept encountering him every few days.

Didn’t he have his own corporate empire to manage?

Why was he constantly lurking around me?

He invited me to his house for a home–cooked dinner.

I declined without hesitation.

He looked genuinely wounded: “I thought we’d established a friendship.”

I fell silent, wanting to physically slap myself. It was entirely my fault for speaking carelessly–he’d taken my politeness literally.

He owned an absolutely adorable dog. Sometimes when he traveled internationally, he’d ask me to pet–sit.

Oh, I forgot to mention–his new residence was directly adjacent to mine. He claimed corporate headquarters had relocated and this was the most convenient location.

The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY

Chapter 9

So I found myself visiting daily to feed his precious pet.

I have to admit, while Kieran himself could be a complete bastard, his actual dog was irresistibly charming.

A gorgeous little golden retriever.

Every time the golden saw me, its tail transformed into a helicopter rotor.

Recently Kieran had embarked on another extended business trip, and I couldn’t dare work past sunset, terrified of starving his “beloved child.”

Somehow this routine got twisted into office rumors that I hall an illegitimate child and had to rush home daily to feed my secret offspring.

I remained oblivious to this gossip until one day a young guy from our project department cornered me.

“Ms. Holloway, may I court you? I want to give you and your child a complete, loving family.”

I sighed with bone–deep exhaustion, too drained to explain the ridiculous misunderstanding.

Later, To express gratitude, Kieran offered to take me to an upscale restaurant. I declined, claiming I was drowning in administrative paperwork.

I emphasized with frustration: “I’m never pet–sitting again. It’s genuinely sabotaging my romantic prospects!”

That evening, Kieran suddenly materialized in my office doorway.

He was carrying an enormous bag of gourmet takeout, grinning with insufferable smugness: “Ms. Holloway’s working so diligently. Need any professional assistance?”

I devoured the delicate pastry he’d brought while directing him to help review complex documents.

As expected from a business mogul, he handled everything with effortless expertise.

While reading, he explained which sections were crucial. I was practically moved to tears by his competence.

I desperately needed to develop business acumen, and since he was willing to mentor me, I was thrilled to learn.

And then, several young men at the company were actively pursuing me. Somehow Kieran discovered this information.

Soon everyone knew Kieran was my

ex–husband.

It appeared we maintained excellent rapport and might rekindle our romance, so all my suitors immediately scattered.

I simply wanted to exploit Kieran’s usefulness, so I deliberately ignored these spreading rumors.

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Chapter 9

Kieran and I maintained this carefully calibrated relationship–neither too intimate nor too distant. We’d share meals when schedules permitted, then part ways afterward without drama.

Two years later, the company had essentially stabilized, and a competent new general manager was settling into leadership.

I was finally ready to retreat into comfortable obscurity.

My retirement fantasy was definitely becoming reality!

But before retiring permanently, I decided to indulge in one final romantic adventure.

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