Bree glared at Dawn when she said that she had limited time. She gritted her teeth and snickered, "Ah! The famous 'Dawn Attitude', which ruined you five years back also."

Dawn frowned. "What do you mean?"

​​

Bree looked away, bit the insides of her cheek and said, "I mean what I say! But I am here to talk about something else. Since you don't have much time left, let me come to the point!"

"Good! Because I was planning to fire you otherwise," said replied coldly.

"You are such a snob!"

Dawn narrowed her eyes. "You have four minutes left."

To contain her anger Bree took in a deep breath and then said, "Erika Trey has sent me to you. She said that if you are going to give her the money for plastic surgery, then she would drop the case against you."

Dawn raised her left eyebrow. "Oh! That's interesting," she said with a lopsided smile. "How much will the surgery cost?"

"It would cost approximately seventy-five thousand dollars."

Dawn nodded. She got up from her chair, walked to the glass wall, which faced the museum and looked out at the traffic. The city beneath was oblivious of what was happening in this room. She envied them. Misery came over her. Not a moment of rest. Everyone relaxed more in their life as compared to her. She shook her head. She heard Bree chuckling at her back.

"So what do you think Ms. Dawn?" she asked. "Isn't that a lovely proposal? Worth more than five minutes? Worth more than one hour?"

Dawn looked up at the ceiling. She turned back to face Bree and then walked back to her office desk. She held its edges with her hands and leaned on it. She narrowed her eyes and with the same flinty eyes said, "And what is the guarantee that Erika Trey won't re-file the case?"

Bree smiled. "Of course she wouldn't. She would be too busy getting her surgery rather than fighting the case against you."

Dawn snarled. "Go and tell Erika Trey that I will meet her in the court. I won't give her a single penny for surgery and that I am eager to fight the case against her." She smiled. "Oh! Also tell her never to threaten or deal with a person like me. Things can go too bad!"

"Are you mad? The case is such that you are looking for a long term in jail. If you go to the jail, who would take care of your brother. Do you want to deliver your babies in the facility? I had talked with her and have come up with a brilliant solution to keep you out and you are throwing this chance away?"

Dawn canted her head to absorb what Bree was saying. "And what is the guarantee that you would never come back with more demands?" Did Bree think that she would take the bait?

Bree's mouth fell open. "You are one idiot in life to waste the chance like that!"

"Your five minutes are up. Now you stop wasting my time," said Dawn. She pointed towards the door. "You may leave!"

Feeling utterly insulted, Bree got up to leave. When she turned, she saw that Daryn was standing near the door. He opened it wide for her to go. She was stunned and didn't know for how long the man was standing behind her. She flinched at his sight and gulped as she walked to the door. But before going she said in a feeble voice, "If you wish to change your mind, you know where to find me. Else you may find your sorry ass in the jail!" Saying that she darted out of the place fearing that Daryn might murder her because the way he looked towards her, it was nothing short of lethality.

Dawn clenched her teeth and pounded on the table. "Bloody wench! How dare she come to me with that crooked proposal?"

Daryn walked up to her and held her hands. "It's good you called me through our mind link. That woman is vicious."

She sagged against him. "I wanted to know why she was desperate to meet me."

"Why don't you fire her?" said Daryn as he stroked her hair.

"I will… Soon…" she replied and buried her face in his chest.

"When is the first date of trial?"

"Next Monday."

"Will Erika Trey come for the trial?"

"Considering her condition, most likely she won't."

Daryn held her for a long time until she calmed down and then they went back to the Silver Mansion.

Her appetite had increased even more. These days Cole has become her personal chef. He made sure that the chefs made the best of the meals. She loved the way he treated her.

While having dinner, he said, "I am planning to drop out of the school and join you, if that isn't too much to ask."

Dawn placed her spoon down and looked at him affectionately. "And I would love it if you finish your school and college and join me. That way I will leave it all to you in one go."

Cole got up from his place and walked up to hug his sister. "I hope god blesses every brother with a sister like you." She chuckled and so did he.

Not wanting to be left out, Daryn also got up and hugged both of them.

Next Monday when Dawn reached the trial room along with Daryn, David and Lily, she saw that there were hardly any people inside. Other than Alvarez, two junior police officers and four men on the last bench, no one else was there. Geoffrey had ensured that there was no media. She went to sit next to him and Hertz. "What is the progress?" she asked.

"The judge will be coming in five minutes," said Hertz.

Even though flanked by the two top lawyers, she was scared as to how the judge would take up the matter. She looked towards the opposition lawyer and was not shocked to see that Bree was sitting behind them. Erika Trey was absent.

"Do you think they will try to extract money from us?" asked Dawn.

Before Geoffrey could answer, the judge arrived and all of them got up.

A tall and lanky man, the judge looked all business. His straight hair was combed back. He looked at all of them and sat down. The trial began.

"Ms. Dawn, are you aware of the serious charges against you?" he asked, removing his spectacles after reading a document in front of him.

Geoffrey got up and said, "Yes we are aware."

"This can be a very serious allegation and if proved, your client Ms. Dawn is looking to go to jail," said the judge.

"Yes my honor."

Every muscle in Dawn's body felt tight. It was as if she couldn't walk, she was rooted to the ground. Her mind screamed at her to get out of the trial room as panic began to set but even her face felt tight like only listening to what was going was the only option left. Many scenarios bounced around her head and she wondered if she should have taken Bree's offer. Depression knocked at her mind and sweat trickled down her body. Suddenly a warm feeling wrapped around her mind and her body—Daryn.

"Be calm baby…" he sent a tendril of thought in her disturbed mind.