When My Ex's Worst Enemy Became My Sanctuary novel Chapter 252

After he spoke, Latham drove off, leaving Albert coughing in the thick exhaust.

Albert’s eyes darkened. It was all Latham’s fault. Because of him, Dorothea was slipping further and further away.

***

Dorothea glanced at Latham’s sharp profile, a little surprised. “Her trial’s tomorrow?”

“Yeah.” Latham turned to look at her. “Do you want to go?”

“Of course.” Dorothea barely paused before answering.

Carola had been especially quiet these past few days. So quiet, it made Alonzo nervous.

“Carola, don’t worry. Even if today’s verdict isn’t good, we can still appeal.”

Carola just gave a cold smile. “There won’t be another chance.”

Alonzo felt a surge of panic. “Carola, don’t say that. You’re going to be fine.”

“Alonzo, if something happens to me, would you help me?” Carola looked at him with hope in her eyes, her voice barely above a whisper.

He had never seen her like this before. Without thinking, Alonzo nodded. “Of course I’ll help you. You can count on me. I won’t leave you behind.”

Carola’s smile was small, but somehow it sent a chill straight through him. “Thank you. Thank you for not giving up on me.”

Something about that smile made Alonzo uneasy.

***

Dorothea took half a day off from work, doing her best to stay under the radar. She wore a mask and dressed as simply as possible, sitting with Latham in the very back row of the courtroom gallery.

The place was packed. This case—intentional harm through bullying—had drawn attention from everywhere.

Dorothea had made sure the whole thing blew up publicly. She wanted to keep Layton from pulling strings behind the scenes.

What really surprised her was that Elise didn’t show up.

Back then, Dorothea had only started investigating because she was tired of Carola’s harassment. She never imagined there would be so many other victims.

Those girls were still stuck in the shadow Carola had left behind.

Dorothea felt a wave of gratitude. She was lucky she’d seen the truth in time. If she hadn’t, would she have ended up just like them?

Beside her, Latham’s hand found hers. His palm was warm and dry, his thumb tracing gentle circles on the back of her hand.

Dorothea smiled softly.

She wasn’t the same girl she used to be. She wasn’t weak or scared anymore.

Now she had him.

If Albert and Carola had been the chains and darkness she could never escape, then Latham was the light guiding her forward.

Dorothea squeezed his hand, holding on tight. She wasn’t afraid of anything anymore.