bChapter /bb4 /b

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Hannah gave a breezy shrug, a sly grin tugging at her lips. “My grandpa and yours? They’ve been tight for, like, forever. When iCole /iGroup was going under, my folks hit me up. I told them to throw a bone, you know, score some good vibes.”

Liam’s eyes bugged out. “Hannah, I’ve known you forever, and you never said a peep about this?” His heart swelled with warmth. She’d worked all that magic and let Aria hog the limelight.

She nced away, brushing it off with a wave. “I don’t go fishing for gold stars, Liam. If Aria hadn’t gone full diva, I’d have kept it zipped.”

He grabbed her hand, his voice low and earnest. “You’re too damn good, Hannah. Grandpa’s been yed by Aria’s little act, but ionce /iwe’re married, he’ll see you’re the real MVP.”

Hannah arched a brow, her confidence practically radiating. “Oh, he’ll get the memo.”

Liam’d been abroad for two years, keeping tabs on thepany from a distance.

His uncle, a brainiac with a PhD from some elite overseas school, started at Cole Group same time as Aria. Every deal he closed, he’d ring Liam to spill the

tea.

Liam thought it was all clicking now–Hannah’s family, the Gibsons, had pulled some serious strings tond those contracts.

His uncle had done the legwork, letting Aria take the bows just to help her get her bearings. But she’d swiped all the credit without so much as a flinch.

Right then, Liam’s phone pinged with a text from the butler, spilling every detail of his grandpa’stest face–off with Aria. His face lit up as he yanked Hannah into a tight hug. “Grandpa’s cool with ditching Aria! We’re finally free to move in together.”

Hannah’s lips curved into a smug smirk. “Told ya I saw iting.”

Liam let out a heavy sigh, scratching his neck. “It’s and now she’s gunning for fifteen billion.”

gonna be a walk in the parkb, /bthough. She’sing out swinging–turned down a 230–million deal

Hannah snorted, her voice dripping with shade. “Greedy’s an understatement. But chill. If this hits the courtroom, that money’s gotta be dirty. She’s screwed.”

“We need Owen Shaw on our side,” Liam said, his tone all business. “Dude’s a legal rockstar–ice–cold, fair as theye. They don’t call him the King of the Courtroom for nothing.”

Hannah’s eyes gleamed with a spark of mischief, “Oh, I’ve bumped into him a time or two. If we lock him down, we’re golden.”

Liam’s grin stretched wide as he pulled her close again. “Hannahb, /bwhere the hell would I be without youb?/bb” /b

Aria had just kicked off her heels and copsed onto the couch when her phone buzzed with Benjamin’s name lighting up the screen.

“Hey, darlin‘, what’s good? Got a minute toe kick it with this old coot?” Benjamin’s voice was warm,ced with that familiar yful charm.

Aria propped herptop on her knees, already typing “top divorcewyers” into the search bar. “Benjamin, I’m kinda mmed right now.”

“I hear ya, busy girl. Word’s out about Liam’s drama, too. Listen, I got a pal who’s a straight–up beast in court–perfect for your case.”

Awyer handpicked by Benjamin? That was a no–brainer, bAria’s /blips quirked into a grin. “You’re the best, Benjamin. I’ll swing by bto /bthank you bproperly /b

Benjamin’s chuckle practically danced through the phone, his excitement bubbling over. b“/bbI’ll /bhook you bup /bwith my

He bcaught /bbhimself/bb, /bnearly spilling his not so secret n to set her up with his grandson, “Uh, bmy /bbbuddy’s /bbcontact/b. I’ll text you bhis /bbinfo/b. bYou /bbtwo /bbcan /bbget /bbto /b

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15:06 Mon, 26 May MT

chatting.”

“You’re a gem, Benjamin. I’ll stop by for that thank–you soon, promise,” Aria said, her voice soft and teasing.

“No rush, sweetheart. Win that case, then we’ll have a big ol‘ party at my ce, yeah?”

“Count me in.”

The call ended, and sure enough, Benjamin’s text popped up with a contact card.

Aria added thewyer instantly, firing off a quick message: [Hey, Mr. Webb, got a case I’d love to run by you.]

(+20)

Meanwhile, across town at Seacrest Law Firm, Owen Shaw was slogging through a stack of files when Benjamin’s message came through, asking him to help a friend with a messy divorce.

He shot back a [No problem,] only for his phone to ping again–a friend request.

Owen squinted at the screen. “Mr. Webb? Wrong guy or what?”

But it was Benjamin’s referral, so he hit ept and typed: [Ms. Saxon?]

Arial replied: [That’s me! Hey, Mr. Webb.]

Owen: [You’reying it on thick with the formal vibe.]

A legal consult, and she already fumbled my name?‘ he thought, a smirk tugging at his lips.

“Formal?” Aria mused, picturing one of Benjamin’s old cronies–probably some grizzled guy in his fifties with a cigar habit.

She typed: [Hey, Mr. Webb! Benjamin sent me your way, said you’re the guy for business disputes.]

Grinning, he still didn’t bother correcting her. They texted back and forth for ten minutes, and he pieced together the whole story.

Her husband’spany tanked right after their wedding, so she’d thrown in a chunk of cash to save it. Now, those shares were worth a fortune–twenty

times what she put in.

But her sleaze of a husband stepped out, and now they were splitting.

His family was ying dirty, waving a prenup in her face, iming her investment was “marital property” and offering her chump change to keep her

shares.

Owen typed:(Mind me askin‘–what’s the damage on those shares?]

Aria replied coolly: [About fifteen billion.!

Owen’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Holy hell. That is serious cash.‘

Owen: Ms. Saxon, how about you swing by Seacrest Law Firm? We need to talk this out in person.]

And just like that, it hit him. She wasn’t just any client–she was the Ms. Saxon, the Cole heiress his mom couldn’t bstop /bgushing about, the one with brains, bbeauty/b, and a heart of gold.

The next morning, Aria hightailed it to Seacrest Law Firm.

Talk about rotten luck she ran smack into Liam and Hannah right bat /bthe entrance.

Hannah’s eyes raked over Aria like she bwas /byesterday’s trash, then she let out a nasty littleugh. b“/bbWell/b, look bwho /bit is, bMs. /bbSaxon/bb. /bbHere /bbto /bbsweet/bb–/bbtalk /bbMr. /b

b2/4 /b

15:06 Mon, b26 /bMay MTb. /b

chatting.”

“You’re a gem, Benjamin. I’ll stop by for that thank–you soon, promise,” Aria said, her voice soft and teasing.

“No rush, sweetheart. Win that case, then we’ll have a big ol‘ party at my ce, yeah?”

“Count me in.”

The call ended, and sure enough, Benjamin’s text popped up with a contact card.

Aria added thewyer instantly, firing off a quick message: [Hey, Mr. Webb, got a case I’d love to run by youi./i]

Meanwhile, across town at Seacrest Law Firm, Owen Shaw was slogging through a stack of files when Benjamin’s message came through, asking him to help a friend with a messy divorce.

He shot back a [No problem,] only for his phone to ping again–a friend request.

Owen squinted at the screen. “Mr. Webb? Wrong guy or what?”

But it was Benjamin’s referral, so he hit ept and typed: [Ms. Saxon?]

Arial replied: [That’s me! Hey, Mr. Webb.]

Owen: [You’reying it on thick with the formal vibe.]

A legal consult, and she already fumbled my name?‘ he thought, a smirk tugging at his lips.

“Formal?” Aria mused, picturing one of Benjamin’s old cronies–probably some grizzled guy in his fifties with a cigar habit.

She typed: [Hey, Mr. Webb! Benjamin sent me

said you’re the guy for business disputes.]

Grinning, he still didn’t bother correcting her. They texted back and forth for ten minutes, and he pieced together the whole story.

Her husband’spany tanked right after their wedding, so

times what she put in.

We’d thrown in ba /bchunk of cash to save it. Now, those shares were worth ba /bfortune–twenty

But her sleaze of a husband stepped out, and now they were splitting.

His family was ying dirty, waving a prenup in her face, iming her investment was “marital property” and offering her chump change to keep her

shares.

Owen typed:[Mind me askin‘–what’s the damage on those shares?]

Aria replied coolly: [About fifteen billion.!

Owen’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Holy hell. That is serious cash.’

Owen: [Ms. Saxon, how about you swing by Seacrest Law Firm? We need to talk this

out

in person.]

And just like that, it hit him. She wasn’t just any client–she was the Ms. Saxon, the Cole heiress his mom couldn’t stop gushing about, the one with brains, beauty, and a heart of gold.

The next morning, Aria hightailed it to Seacrest bLaw /bFirm.

Tath about rotten luck she ran smack into Liam and Hannah right at the entrance.

bHannah’s /beyes raked over Aria like she was yesterday’s btrash/bb, /bthen she let bout /ba nasty littleugh. “Well, look who it is, Ms. bSaxon/b. Here bto /bbsweet /bbtalk /bbMr. /b

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Shaw into taking your case? Hate to burst your bubble, sweetheart, but a shady operator like you, fleecing folks with dirty tricks? Mr. Shaw wouldn’t touch you with a barge pole.”

Aria didn’t bat an eye. “Oh, Hannah, you that sure Seacrest would back a homewrecker like you in a courtroom?”

She tossed out the jab and sauntered inside, leaving them choking on her dust.

Hannah’s face went crimson. She lunged to grab Aria’s arm, but Aria, like she had radar, sidestepped and snatched Hannah’s wrist, flicking it away like it was a bad vibe.

Spinning around, Aria fixed Liam with an ice–cold re. “Leash your yappy mutt, Liam. Shees at me again, I’m not just pping back–I’ll snap her arm off.”

A gaggle of suits rounded the corner just in time to catch her warning. The hallway went pin–drop quiet, every eyeball glued to the showdown at the door.

Liam pulled Hannah into his arms, shielding her as he shot Aria a scowl. “Real nice, Aria. Hannah’s just trying to save your sorry butt, and you’re too bullheaded to see it.

I’m letting this slide ‘cause you’re ady, but don’t test me again.”

Hannah, nestled against Liami, /ididn’t bother chiming in.

Why waste my breath on a nobody like Aria? No degree, no job–total small–fry energy. Not worth my time,‘ she thought.

Aria didn’t even dignify him with a nce. She glided over to the gobsmacked receptionist, cool as a cucumber. “Hey there, I’m here for Mr. Webb. Got an appointment.”

Owen, who’d been soaking up the whole melodrama, couldn’t peel his eyes s off Aria.

His mom wasn’t kidding–this woman was a stunner. First impression? She was a straight–up powerhouse. No shocker she’d single–handedly yanked Cole Group back from the grave.

But when she name–dropped “Mr. Webb,” Owen’s lips quirked, and he mentally dialed back his awe.

The receptionist blinked, snapping out of her trance, and nodded toward a middle–aged guy in a sharp suit. “That’s Mr. Webb right there.”

“Thanks,” Aria said, all smooth and polished.

Owen took a step forward, ready to clear up the mix–up, but before he could get a word out, Aria breezed right past him. She zeroed in on Mason Webb, shing a dazzling smile and sticking out her hand. “Mr. Webb, hi! I’m Aria.”

‘You’ve gotta be kidding me,‘ Owen thought.

Mason, caught off guard, shook her hand with a nk look. “Uh, hey there. And you are…?”

Aria’s smile went full–on professional charm. “Mr. Benjamin Hayes sent me your way. Said you’re the best in the biz for this kind of case and I should hire you.”

Mason’s eyes lit up like he’d just struck gold. ‘Mr. Hayes knows me? And he’s sending me clients?‘ he thoughtb, /bbarely containing his grin.

Time was, Mason had been Seacrest’s golden boy, the top–dogwyer–until Owen swooped in and nabbed the chief attorney spot.

Gwen wasn’t just a bname/bb, /beither; the guy had serious game, and Mason had to suck it up.

Now, though, Mason’s grin was practically splitting his face. “Ms. Saxon, the pleasure’s all mineb,/bb” /bhe said, tossing ba /bsmug, eat that smirk Owen’s This train was derailing fast. Owen rubbed his temples, exasperated. “Ms. Saxon-

way.

15:06 Mon, 26 May MT

“Owen!” A shrill voice sliced through the air, cutting him off cold.

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