Verdict of the Heart: I'm No Longer Yours

"We should divorce. The agreement will be sent to you. Please sign it as soon as possible."

Linsey Wheeler was enjoying dinner with a client when she caught sight of the message on her phone, which made her pause momentarily.

Three years earlier, she had married Bryson Higgins, who found their union unsatisfactory. On their wedding day, he had abandoned her to go abroad, making her a subject of ridicule in Ekarora. Now back in the country, he wasted no time in broaching the topic of divorce.

"Ms. Wheeler, don't just sit there. Allow me to propose a toast," the client offered cheerfully.

Yet, Linsey's spirits had waned. She quickly texted back, showing her nod on the divorce, and then stowed her phone.

As the hour grew late, she set aside her fork and bid her farewell. "Mr. Sullivan, I must be going now. I have other matters to attend to."

However, Devin Sullivan, the client, did not want her to leave yet and suggested, "Ms. Wheeler, perhaps you could stay a bit longer? I could drive you home afterward."

Linsey politely refused. "No, thank you. I really need to take care of other matters."

Devin appeared disappointed, but then struck upon an idea. He presented a glass of wine to Linsey. "Then, Ms. Wheeler, please do me the honor of finishing this last glass."

Unable to refuse, Linsey drank the wine. As she was preparing to leave, she suddenly felt an odd sensation. What was happening? Why was she feeling so hot...

Linsey realized something was amiss and clenched her fists, her brow furrowing.

It was then that Devin disclosed his true motives. He offered Linsey a sleazy grin. "Ms. Wheeler, you are both pretty and competent. Spend just one night with me, and your days of hard work will be over. You'll lead a carefree life. How does that sound?"

Linsey shot him a fierce glare. "You've drugged me!" Frustrated, she belatedly realized she had fallen into his trap!

As Devin reached out to her with that sleazy smile, Linsey recoiled in disgust and warned, "Stay away from me!"

Yet, as Linsey continued to resist, Devin did not hesitate. He lunged forward, aiming to kiss her.

"Ah!" Linsey cried out in terror, struggling fiercely. In her frantic state, she grasped a wine bottle from the table and hurled it at Devin.

Devin's howl of pain echoed as she shoved him back and fled the chamber with all her might.

However, the drug was taking its effect, and Linsey felt overwhelmed by a surge of heat throughout her body.

Nearly in despair, she suddenly ran into a man at the corner. Desperately, she clung to the man's arm. "Please help me!"

The man smelled of alcohol and the crisp scent of cedar. Instinctively, Linsey sought comfort in the coolness that radiated from him, hoping to quell the burning sensation within her.

However, it was far from enough for her. She craved more.

In her haze, she heard the man's voice, tense with restraint. "You brought this on yourself."

Suddenly, she felt herself being lifted off the ground and gently placed on a soft bed.

Before Linsey could gather her thoughts, the man, his breath heavy with the scent of alcohol, pressed his lips against hers with a forceful, unbridled kiss that nearly broke through her defenses.

Yet, this was only the beginning. Everything that followed spiraled beyond her control.

On the bed, Linsey found herself beneath the man, her clothes removed with little regard. Her skin burned as his warm hands explored her, igniting an overwhelming arousal.

The room was soon filled with a chorus of gasps and moans, their silhouettes barely discernible in the dim light.

The intense encounter stretched on until it finally ceased.

When Linsey's eyes fluttered open, daylight was streaming through the windows. A sharp, indescribable pain shot through her, a stark reminder that the events of the night were not just fragments of a dream.

She lay there, her mind slowly reconstructing the memories of the night. She had spent the night with a stranger!

Panic set in as she turned to look at the man beside her, only to be struck by astonishment.

To her shock, the man was Bryson, her husband, whom she hadn't seen in three years!

As fate would have it, Bryson had mentioned divorce just yesterday, and now here they were, sharing a bed. Linsey couldn't help but question if this was some twisted jest fate had in store for her.

Noticing he was still asleep, Linsey quickly dressed, intent on leaving quietly. She felt it seemed wisest to leave promptly to prevent any misunderstanding.

However, as she attempted to rise from the bed, her wrist was seized in a firm grip. She turned, only to be met by his intense gaze.

"Are you awake? Last night was just an accident..." Linsey averted her gaze, grappling with how to justify her erratic behavior of agreeing to a divorce one moment and sharing an intimate moment the next.

"You're quite adept, aren't you? What do you hope to gain by seducing me deliberately?" Bryson frowned, his voice thick with contempt.

Linsey was taken aback. "You don't recognize me?"

"Should I recognize a hostess who approached me to sleep with me?" Bryson retorted with a sneer.

Just the previous night, after his social obligations, as Bryson was about to retire to his hotel room, this woman had suddenly clung to him, groping and pressing against him.

He had always maintained a distance from women, yet here he was, having lost control with a stranger for the first time. And it repulsed him even more because of it.

"It's not what you think. I..." Linsey started, urgently trying to explain, but he cut her off.

"Enough," Bryson said, massaging his temples with visible irritation. He tossed a check at her. "I don't care what you're after. Take this money and leave. Forget any other ideas you might have."

Feeling humiliated, Linsey glared at him. "I don't want your money!"

She was the true victim, yet she now endured this humiliation.

Bryson's eyes hardened. If she didn't want money, what else could she possibly want? Did she really believe that a single night with him would elevate her status?

"Enough talk. Just leave!" Bryson waved his hand dismissively, signaling her to depart. "Never appear before me again!"

With that, he left the room as if even a glance at Linsey was too repulsive for him.

Clutching the check, Linsey watched Bryson's indifferent departure, her heart filled with bitter irony. Her husband of three years hadn't even recognized her.

Stunned for a moment, Linsey sighed inwardly and made her way to the bathroom for a shower.

She undressed and noticed the marks of intimacy scattered across her body. Memories of the previous night floated up unbidden.

Bryson had not been gentle, but he hadn't been overly rough either. Aside from a general soreness, Linsey felt no other discomforts. His touches seemed to linger, making her cheeks warm with a blush.

She quickly shook her head to clear these thoughts. They were on the verge of divorce, after all. She decided to dismiss the incident as a mere accident.

After her shower, Linsey stepped out of the bathroom, only to have her phone ring.

The caller ID showed it was Asher Harper, a former client.

She answered, and Asher's upbeat voice came through. "Ms. Wheeler, how have you been?"

They exchanged pleasantries briefly before Asher got to the point.

Linsey had previously helped Asher win a significant lawsuit. Out of gratitude, he was referring a major client to her.

Hearing about the new opportunity, Linsey's focus shifted to business. "Could you tell me more about the client's situation?"

Asher explained, "He's a friend who's just secured a large overseas project, but his goods have been detained by customs. Since you're the best in this field, I immediately thought of you."

Linsey smiled, grateful for the referral. "That's so nice of you."

Given Asher's esteemed reputation, Linsey trusted his referrals without question. This lifted her spirits, and she expressed her gratitude warmly, "Thank you for introducing the client to me."

After they exchanged a few more pleasantries, Asher added, "I'll send you the address where I've arranged for you to meet my friend. You can go there now and have a chat with him in person."

Despite feeling somewhat weak, Linsey knew she couldn't afford to delay. After receiving the address, she promptly prepared herself and headed out to the Twilight Bar.

Upon reaching the venue, Linsey ascended the stairs and pushed open the door to the reserved chamber, only to be met with a shocking sight. Inside was Bryson, the very husband she had parted ways with just this morning!

What a preposterous twist of fate. Bryson again!

Scenes from their intimacy last night and his indifference earlier this morning flashed in Linsey's mind.

Linsey's first instinct was to turn around and hightail it out of there. She was in the process of turning away when she paused and reconsidered.

While she had no interest in getting involved with her so-called husband in any capacity, it would be a pity to let this lucrative opportunity go. Securing a connection with the Higgins Group would certainly help advance her career.

Besides, it was quite clear that Bryson had no idea about her being his legal wife. It posed no problems for them working together.

With renewed resolve, Linsey took a deep breath and strode over to Bryson's table. She slid into the seat across him and said, "Mr. Higgins. It's nice to see you again."

Bryson scowled when he laid eyes on Linsey. Hadn't he compensated her enough for the previous night? Why had this woman followed him all the way here? She was really starting to get on his nerves.

Bryson's eyes flashed with disdain as he smirked at her. "Do you want more money? Is that why you're here?"

Linsey sat up straight. "I'm afraid you've misunderstood. I'm here to meet a prospective client."

Bryson felt even more repulsed when he heard that. He got the wrong idea that she was some prostitute. It hadn't even been a day since they had shared a bed, and she was already seeking out a new client?

His gaze traveled down Linsey's slender figure. Could she really handle such strenuous activities?

"Aren't you pushing yourself too hard?" he asked. "Won't you even rest before offering your services to another client?"

Linsey blinked, baffled by his words. "Why rest when there is money to be made?"

Bryson's view of her was getting worse and worse by the second. This woman was something else! How could she be so proud of her depravity? How utterly shameless!

Linsey, on the other hand, thought that Bryson was simply underestimating her skills as a lawyer. She tried to reassure him, "Don't worry, I've dealt with similar matters countless times before. I'm quite proficient at my job if I say so myself."

Bryson narrowed his eyes at her. For a moment, he said nothing and just scrutinized Linsey. Proficient, she said? But she seemed inexperienced last night during their intimate moments. Was it all pretense on her part?

Linsey met his skeptical eyes and went on, "I'm more than willing to fulfill the client's specific needs. My goal is to ensure customer satisfaction. If you have any requirements, all you need to do is let me know, and I'll see to it that they are met."

The Higgins Group was a major conglomerate, a top player in various business enterprises. Even the mere possibility of working with them was not something to be taken lightly, and Linsey was determined to seize this chance for herself.

Bryson raised an eyebrow. "So, your industry provides such well-rounded service now?"

Loathe as he was to admit it, he was rather impressed by her zeal. With the way she was selling herself, he almost believed that she truly was the best in her line of work. This annoyed him, for some reason, even more so than he had been a while ago. Bryson turned away with a sharp intake of breath. "I do not need your services. You may go."

Linsey bristled. How could he reject her outright?

Asher had been direct about the tricky points of the case, which was mainly why he had turned to her for help.

For Bryson to dismiss her without even giving her a chance to prove herself was indicative of his lack of trust in her.

"I have handled my fair share of economic disputes and international trade cases for various companies. I assure you that my portfolio is extensive, and my experience will surely serve you well. I reviewed the previous lawsuits faced by the Higgins Group on my way here, and I am confident that I can win this one for you."

Bryson's eyes widened in astonishment. "You were talking about the case?" he blurted out, his voice rising slightly.

It was Linsey's turn to narrow her eyes, this time with confusion. "What else could it have been?"

What the hell did he think she was talking about?

As an afterthought, Linsey added, "Mr. Harper introduced you to me. Asher Harper, that is."

Bryson almost clicked his tongue. A female lawyer who built her career by seducing clients and sleeping with them... It looked like Asher was becoming increasingly unreliable these days. How could that punk introduce him to an opportunistic wench when he needed a true professional!

Bryson stewed and said nothing, making Linsey think that he was still doubting her abilities. "Mr. Higgins, I am aware that a batch of goods from your company has been impounded by Behland Customs. As I said, I have experience in these matters. In fact, I've handled a similar case before. I hope you will give me a chance. Even a single day wasted without settling this issue could mean heavy losses for the Higgins Group."

Bryson sneered, "You're quite dedicated, aren't you? You've been thorough with your research. I'll give you that."

"Of course," Linsey responded without batting an eye. "In our line of work, the client's interests and well-being are always the priority."

Bryson's expression darkened once more. Why did she keep blabbering on and on about pleasing her damn clients?

"Even the top legal team hired by the Higgins Group couldn't solve this," he said in a snarky tone. "Do you honestly believe you can take care of it?"

Linsey couldn't help but feel irritated by his tone, especially since he was basically questioning her professional skills. It didn't take a genius to know that Bryson underestimated her.

"The reason for the embargo is not because of the goods. Your lawyers were looking into the wrong angle and dragged themselves to a dead end. You need a fresh perspective, a thorough one." At this point, Linsey completely dropped her courteous demeanor.

She was no longer an amicable woman marketing herself for a profitable business venture, but a cutthroat lawyer who was dealing with a cumbersome client. The change was so abrupt and so stark that it left Bryson momentarily stunned.