Hell Hath no fury like a billionaire's Ex-Chapter 32: The Court Order

Diane’s POV

I woke up with a start, my heart racing as I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. 6:30 AM. Another restless day filled with dreams of arguments and locked doors.

It had been almost a month since I’d left Liam’s mansion, and he still hadn’t sent over my things as promised. The frustration that had been simmering for days threatened to boil over as I dragged myself out of bed.

As I shuffled towards the bathroom in Joan’s beach house, where I’d been staying since the separation, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The woman staring back at me looked tired, with dark circles under her eyes and a permanent frown etched on her face.

This wasn’t me. This wasn’t the Diane I knew myself to be. I splashed some cold water on my face, determined to shake off the sadness that had been clinging to me like a second skin.

"Get it together, Diane," I muttered to myself. "You’ve got work to do."

I went through my morning routine, my mind preoccupied with the tasks ahead. As I was pouring myself a cup of tea, my phone buzzed on the counter. It was Robert, my boss. Curiosity piqued, I answered the call.

"Diane, I’m so glad I caught you," Robert’s voice came through, tinged with a hint of desperation. "I hate to bother you like this, but I’m in a bit of a bind."

"What’s going on, Robert?" I asked, taking a sip of my tea.

"It’s about that comprehensive market analysis report you worked on before you left the company the first time," he explained. "You know, the one for the Eastern European expansion project? We’re pitching to a major client next week for a similar campaign, and I can’t seem to locate my copy anywhere. I was hoping you might still have yours? Your strategic insights would be invaluable for this presentation."

My stomach dropped as realization dawned on me. That report. I knew exactly where it was – filed away in the study at Liam’s mansion, along with the rest of my personal and professional belongings. Being the meticulous organizer I’d always been, I had kept copies of all my important work documents, even after leaving the company few years ago.

"I... I do have a copy, Robert," I said, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. "But it’s at my old place, in the study, and I don’t have access to it right now."

"Oh," Robert replied, disappointment evident in his tone. "Is there any way you could get it? It would really save our necks here. You know how thorough your market research was, and frankly, we haven’t been able to replicate that level of analysis."

I closed my eyes, feeling a headache coming on. "Let me see what I can do. I’ll get back to you as soon as possible."

After ending the call, I stood in the kitchen, gripping the edge of the counter until my knuckles turned white. This was the last straw. Liam had gone too far, keeping me from my own possessions and now potentially jeopardizing my professional relationships.

Feeling more determined, I marched into the room where Joan was still sleeping. Joan wasn’t just my lawyer; she had become my rock during this difficult time, offering both legal counsel and a shoulder to cry on.

"Joan," I called out, shaking her gently. "Wake up. We need to talk."

Joan stirred, blinking up at me groggily. "Diane? What’s wrong? What time is it?"

"It’s time to take action," I said, my voice firm. "I need you to get a court order immediately. Send it to Liam’s lawyer, Mr. Holbrook."

Fully awake now, Joan sat up, concern etched on her face. "Slow down, Diane. What’s this about?"

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the anger bubbling inside me. "Liam changed the security codes to the mansion. I can’t get in to retrieve my things, including important work documents that I need. It’s been a month, Joan. A month of him playing games and keeping me from my own belongings."

Joan’s expression hardened as she listened. She knew as well as I did that Liam’s actions were crossing a line. "Alright, I understand. What exactly do you want the court order to say?"

"I want unrestricted access to the house," I stated, pacing the room. "I should be able to visit anytime I please. It’s my home too, after all. And make it clear that if Liam doesn’t comply, we’ll take drastic legal action against him."

Joan nodded, already reaching for her laptop. "I’ll draft the order right away and send it over to Mr. Holbrook. Is there anything else you want to include?"

I paused, considering. "Yes, actually. I want it stated explicitly that all my personal and professional belongings are to remain untouched. If anything is missing or damaged when I get there, I want it on record that Liam will be held responsible.

Oh, and one more thing - I want access to Liam’s company whenever I need to go there. He can’t keep me out of that either."

"Got it," Joan replied, her fingers flying over the keyboard. "I’ll make sure it’s all in there. Give me an hour, and I’ll have this sent over to Holbrook’s office."

As Joan worked on the court order, I tried to focus on getting ready for the day ahead. But my mind kept wandering back to the mansion, to all the memories it held – both good and bad.

I remembered the day Liam and I had moved in, filled with hope and dreams for our future together. Now, those dreams lay shattered, replaced by the cold reality. The one I don’t want to be in.

My phone buzzed again, this time with a text from Robert. "Any luck with that market analysis report? We’re in a bit of a time crunch here."

I sighed, typing out a reply. "Working on it. Hope to have access to it soon. Will keep you posted."

As I hit send, a wave of determination washed over me. I was done being pushed around, done letting Liam call all the shots. It was time to take back control of my life, starting with reclaiming access to my own home.

An hour later, Joan emerged from the guest room, looking pleased with herself. "It’s done," she announced. "I’ve sent the court order to Holbrook. Now we wait."

"How long do you think it’ll take?" I asked, trying to keep the impatience out of my voice.

Joan shrugged. "Hard to say. Holbrook’s usually pretty quick to respond, but it depends on how difficult Liam wants to be about this. We should hear something by the end of the day, I’d imagine."

The rest of the morning passed in a blur of anxious waiting. I tried to distract myself with work, but my mind kept drifting back to the mansion, to all the things I needed to retrieve. It wasn’t just about the market analysis report for Robert; it was about reclaiming a part of myself that Liam had tried to lock away.

Around noon, my phone rang. It was Mr. Holbrook. My heart raced as I answered the call.

"Mrs. Ashton," Holbrook’s smooth voice came through the line. "I’m calling regarding the court order we received this morning."

"Yes, Mr. Holbrook," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "What can you tell me?"

There was a pause before he continued. "I’ve received your requests, Mrs. Ashton. However, I’ll need to discuss this matter with Mr. Ashton before taking any further steps. I hope you understand that this may take some time."

I gritted my teeth, frustration rising. "And how long do you expect this ’discussion’ to take, Mr. Holbrook? I need access to my belongings immediately." freewebnσvel.cøm

"I assure you, Mrs. Ashton, we’ll address this as quickly as possible," Holbrook replied, his tone unsure. "I’ll be in touch once I’ve spoken with Mr. Ashton."

After ending the call, I slumped onto the couch, feeling defeated. Joan came to sit beside me, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"What did Holbrook say?" she asked gently.

I filled her in on the conversation, my frustration evident in every word. Joan listened carefully, her brow furrowed in thought.

"It’s a delay tactic," she said finally. "They’re trying to buy time. But don’t worry, Diane. We’ve got the law on our side. They can’t keep you out forever."

I nodded, drawing strength from Joan’s confidence. "You’re right. But what do I do about the report Robert needs? I can’t just sit here and wait."

"Call Robert back," Joan suggested. "Explain the situation. See if there’s any way to buy some time with the client."

Taking Joan’s advice, I dialed Robert’s number. When he answered, I could hear the stress in his voice.

"Robert, it’s Diane," I began. "Listen, I’m working on getting that market analysis report, but I’m running into some... legal complications.

Is there any way you could convince the client to hold off for a day or two? I promise I’ll have everything to you as soon as I possibly can."

Robert was silent for a moment, and I held my breath. Finally, he sighed. "I’ll see what I can do, Diane. But please, try to hurry. This pitch is crucial for our quarterly targets."

After ending the call, I turned to Joan, determination setting in. "We need to push harder. I can’t let Liam’s games jeopardize my professional relationships."

Joan nodded, her expression turning fierce.

"Don’t worry, Diane. If we don’t hear back from Holbrook by tomorrow morning, we’ll file for an emergency hearing. Liam might think he holds all the cards, but he’s about to learn otherwise."

As the day wore on, I tried to keep myself busy, but the waiting was excruciating. Every time my phone buzzed, I jumped, hoping it was news from Holbrook. But as evening fell, there was still no word.

Sitting on the beach house’s porch, watching the sun set over the ocean, I felt a strange mix of emotions. Anger at Liam’s petty tactics, frustration at the slow wheels of justice, but also a growing sense of resolve. Liam had underestimated me if he thought these obstacles would break me.

"You wanted a war, Liam," I whispered to the fading light. "Well, you’ve got one."