The courthouse steps were colder than the mansion marble.
Reporters lined the entrance like vultures.
Cameras flashed.
"Elara! Are you mentally stable?"
"Did Valentino coerce you?"
"Are you under threat?"
Every question was designed to weaken her.
Ares stepped out of the car first.
Calm. Impeccable. Unshaken.
Then Elara followed.
Black suit. Hair tied back. No jewelry.
No softness.
No vulnerability.
Ares didn't hold her hand this time.
He walked beside her.
Equal.
Inside the courtroom, the air was tense.
Rayan was already there.
Seated confidently with his legal team.
When he saw her—
He smiled.
Soft. Regretful. Controlled.
As if he missed her.
Elara felt her stomach twist.
The hearing began.
Rayan's lead attorney stood first.
"Your Honor, we are deeply concerned for Miss Khan's psychological well-being. She disappeared under violent circumstances and has since made erratic public accusations."
Erratic.
The word echoed.
Ares' jaw tightened slightly.
The attorney continued smoothly.
"We request a temporary psychological evaluation to ensure she is not being manipulated or emotionally coerced."
Gasps rippled through the courtroom.
Elara's hands clenched under the table.
Rayan finally stood.
"Your Honor," he said gently, "I loved her. I still do. But the woman standing here is not the one I knew."
The performance was flawless.
Controlled sadness.
Perfect pauses.
He looked at her like she was fragile.
Broken.
The judge turned toward Elara.
"Miss Khan, would you like to respond?"
Her throat went dry.
This was the moment.
If she faltered—
He wins.
She stood slowly.
"I was not kidnapped," she said clearly.
Rayan's eyes flickered.
"I left because I discovered illegal activity connected to Mr. Arman's company."
"Objection," his lawyer snapped.
"Speculation."
The judge raised a hand.
"Miss Khan, do you have evidence?"
The room held its breath.
Elara looked at Ares.
He didn't speak.
Didn't nod.
He simply watched her.
Trusting her choice.
Her pulse pounded.
"Yes," she said.
Silence exploded.
Rayan's smile vanished for half a second.
Then returned.
"Where is this evidence?" the judge asked.
Elara inhaled.
"It is currently being submitted to international authorities."
Murmurs spread.
Rayan's attorney quickly recovered.
"Convenient," he said sharply. "Unverifiable. Unconfirmed. This sounds like emotional projection."
Elara's chest tightened.
They were twisting everything.
The judge leaned back.
"Given the public nature of this case, and lack of immediate documentation, I will order a preliminary psychological assessment."
The word hit like a slap.
Elara's heart dropped.
Rayan looked almost relieved.
Controlled victory.
Ares' fingers flexed slightly on the table.
He was seconds away from standing.
From breaking control.
Elara felt it.
She acted before he could.
"Your Honor," she said quickly.
The judge paused.
"Yes?"
"I welcome the evaluation."
The entire courtroom froze.
Rayan blinked.
Unexpected.
Elara continued calmly.
"I have nothing to hide. And I would rather be evaluated than be labeled unstable without proof."
The judge studied her carefully.
Then nodded.
"Very well. Evaluation scheduled within 48 hours. Hearing adjourned."
The gavel struck.
The room exploded into noise.
Outside the Courtroom
Reporters surged forward.
"Elara! Are you afraid?"
"Mr. Arman, do you believe she's unstable?"
Rayan stepped toward the microphones first.
"I only want her safe," he said gently.
Elara wanted to scream.
Ares stepped slightly closer to her side.
Not touching.
But present.
Then—
Rayan approached her directly.
Bold.
Too bold.
"Elara," he said softly, low enough that cameras couldn't hear.
"You're embarrassing yourself."
Her spine straightened.
"You're afraid," she replied quietly.
His smile thinned.
"You think Valentino can protect you forever?"
She met his gaze without blinking.
"I don't need protection from you anymore."
His eyes darkened.
"You'll regret this."
Ares stepped forward.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
The air shifted instantly.
"Careful," Ares murmured to Rayan.
Not loud.
But lethal.
Rayan smirked slightly.
"Still hiding behind him?"
Elara answered before Ares could.
"No."
She stepped slightly forward.
Standing between them.
"I'm standing in front of him."
The statement hit harder than any slap.
For a moment—
Rayan's control cracked.
Then it returned.
"This isn't over," he said quietly.
Ares' silver eyes turned to ice.
"I know."
Rayan walked away.
But his composure wasn't as perfect now.
Later That Night – Valentino Mansion
Ares stood in his office.
Silent.
Dangerously silent.
"You almost lost control," Elara said softly from the doorway.
He didn't deny it.
"He insulted you."
"I can fight my own battles."
He turned toward her.
"I know."
She stepped closer.
"Then let me."
Their eyes locked.
The tension between them had changed.
It wasn't just protection anymore.
It was partnership.
Suddenly—
Luca entered without knocking.
"Boss."
Ares didn't look away from Elara.
"What."
"We traced the leak source from Arman's media team."
"And?"
"It passed through one of our internal servers before upload."
Silence.
Cold.
Heavy.
"Elaborate," Ares said quietly.
"It means," Luca swallowed, "someone inside our network rerouted data access."
Betrayal.
Again.
Not outside.
Inside.
Elara's stomach tightened.
"They're not just attacking publicly," she whispered.
"They're inside your walls."
Ares' expression became something dangerous.
Controlled fury.
"Find the rat," he ordered.
Luca nodded and left.
Elara looked at Ares.
"This is getting bigger."
"Yes."
"Are you scared?"
A faint, dark smile touched his lips.
"No."
He stepped closer.
"But I am done playing clean."
Her pulse skipped.
"What does that mean?"
His silver eyes locked onto hers.
"It means," he said softly,
"Rayan Arman just stopped being a business enemy."
The air turned colder.
"He became a target."
Outside, thunder rolled across the Roman sky.
And somewhere in the city—
Rayan Arman felt it too.
Because the devil had finally decided—
To stop holding back.