Chapter 244 The Verdict Approaches

Chapter 244: Chapter 244 The Verdict Approaches

Serena knew it now. Deep down, Alpha Sebastian truly did not want the baby.

Cold panic spread through her chest.

The child had been her last piece of leverage, the one thing that might keep Alpha Sebastian opening his wallet and pulling her out of the financial disaster swallowing her whole.

She turned toward him.

"Sebastian," she whispered, making her voice tremble. "I can’t calm down. Would you lie beside me for a while? Just hold me."

He sat in the chair near the window with his eyes closed. Neon from the city painted sharp shadows across his tired face.

"Is your stomach hurting again?"

"My mind won’t shut off."

"Yeah." His mouth twisted bitterly. "Mine either."

Serena studied his profile. "Do you blame me for everything?"

"We’re already standing in the wreckage," he said. "What good would blaming each other do now?"

Alpha Sebastian had spent months feeling one disaster after another crash into him. Every blow had tightened the pressure in his chest.

Now the worst had happened. His career was gone, his reputation was damaged, and Eira had become his enemy. Strangely, the panic had faded. Once the disaster was fully in front of him, there was nothing left to fear.

Serena had no such calm.

Alpha Sebastian had lost his career. She had lost her reputation and gained a debt of more than a hundred million dollars. She was the one facing the real financial ruin.

The baby might keep Alpha Sebastian paying for a little longer. But if that failed, who else could she turn to?

Vincent was useless. Nothing had ever happened between them.

Ryan Sullivan was different.

Sullivan Enterprises was smaller, but it was profitable. Serena was about to join its research division, which would make asking Ryan for money look less suspicious. She could call it an advance, an investment, or support for the new project.

The plan steadied her nerves, but sleep still would not come.

She slipped out of the hospital bed and crossed the small room. Then she pressed herself against Alpha Sebastian’s chest.

He jerked upright.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"I feel safe when I’m close to you."

She lifted her face and tried to kiss him.

Alpha Sebastian turned away at once.

"Serena. Don’t."

"Before the divorce, we did this all the time." She stepped back, hurt flashing across her face. "Why is it suddenly off-limits now?"

"Because I told you what we had was a mistake. I’m not going to keep making it."

Tears filled her eyes.

"You and Eira already..."

"Don’t." He stood so quickly the chair scraped against the floor. "I don’t need you to remind me."

He headed for the door.

"Sebastian, wait." Panic cracked through her voice. "They’re running more tests. I can’t do this alone."

He stopped with one hand on the doorframe.

"I’m going outside for some air."

He stayed away long enough for Serena to start watching the clock.

A nurse finally returned to take her for the transvaginal ultrasound. Alpha Sebastian came back and followed them to the imaging department.

The scan was uncomfortable, and Serena gripped the sheet while the technician worked. Afterward, she complained of dizziness and pressed gauze against her arm while Alpha Sebastian steadied her by the shoulder.

To anyone watching, they looked like a devoted couple.

Only Serena knew he was standing beside her out of duty.

The ultrasound showed no immediate cause for concern.

The doctor also told Serena that the HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis tests from her previous visit were expected to come back the following day.

"If your pain stays under control and you have no bleeding, you can go home tonight," the doctor said. "Return immediately if the pain worsens, you feel faint, or you notice any bleeding."

Serena nodded, but the moment he left, she turned to Alpha Sebastian.

"Could we stay until the results come back? I don’t want to drive all the way here again tomorrow."

Alpha Sebastian glanced at the clock. "You’re sure?"

"I’m exhausted, and my parents are already overwhelmed." She lowered her eyes. "It would be easier to stay here."

He did not argue.

A nurse arranged overnight observation, and Serena settled back against the pillows.

She was about to say something else when her phone buzzed.

The screen showed a call from the Winthrop family.

Serena answered cautiously.

Her aunt’s voice exploded through the speaker.

"Serena, do you think our house is your personal dumping ground? Stop sending your problems to our doorstep. Your grandfather is sick from all the stress you’ve caused him. And those court papers are going to your house. I’m having the driver take them there tonight."

The call ended before Serena could respond.

The color drained from her face.

Alpha Sebastian looked over. "What happened?"

She gripped the phone with both hands.

"Eira filed the lawsuit," she whispered. "She actually took me to court."

Alpha Sebastian did not look surprised.

"I know."

Serena stared at him. Even her carefully applied makeup could not hide how pale she had become.

"You knew? Then why didn’t you tell me?"

"What would you have done?" Alpha Sebastian’s voice was flat. "You can’t reach Eira, and neither can I. She made it clear from the beginning that she was prepared to sue."

"But I was gathering the money."

"The demand letter was a warning, not a settlement." Alpha Sebastian looked toward the dark window. "It stated what she was demanding. It was not a court judgment."

Serena swallowed. "What happens now?"

"You’ll be formally served with the complaint. After that, you’ll have a limited time to respond. If you ignore it, Eira can ask the court for a default judgment."

Serena stared at him. "And if she wins?"

"Then she can try to enforce the judgment." His expression remained cold. "She could seek a levy against your bank accounts, place liens on property in your name, and request a judgment debtor examination to find out what assets you have. Wage garnishment may also be possible if you have eligible income."

The words settled over the room like a blade.

Serena had already sold or listed almost everything she owned. Her apartment, her car, her jewelry, and even the investments her family had placed in her name would not come close to the amount Eira was demanding.

"One hundred eighteen million dollars," she whispered. "That’s what she wants?"

"That was the amount listed in the demand letter, including the money she says you took, damages, interest, and other costs." Alpha Sebastian glanced at her. "It is not a final judgment yet, but you need a California attorney immediately."

Serena’s breathing turned shallow.

"Can they stop me from leaving the country?"

"Not simply because Eira filed a lawsuit," Alpha Sebastian said. "But don’t move money, hide assets, transfer property, or lie in a sworn statement. If you ignore a court order or refuse to cooperate with the collection process, you could create a contempt issue and make everything worse."