Divorced and Chased by My Alpha Billionaire Ex-Husband
Chapter 54: Bail

Chapter 54: Bail

Sophia had just returned home from a long day at work.

She quickly slipped out of her work clothes and into something more comfortable.

After setting her bag down, she grabbed the remote and turned on the TV, hoping for some background noise while she unwound.

But as soon as the screen flickered to life, her eyes widened in shock.

The image on the screen was unmistakable.

"Lucas Rossi Appears in Court on Kidnapping, Assault Charges; Bail Set at $1 Million"

Sophia’s heart dropped.

The camera showed Lucas, surrounded by a sea of reporters and photographers, being escorted into court.

The flashes from the cameras were relentless, capturing every angle of his face, which looked grim but composed.

Amos, Lucas’s assistant, was beside him, doing his best to shield him from the barrage of questions being hurled by the media.

"Mr. Rossi! Did you really kidnap Hades?"

"Is it true you assaulted him?"

"Lucas! Is there anything you’d like to say?"

The chaos outside the courthouse was overwhelming, with reporters shoving microphones in Lucas’s direction, trying to get a statement.

People crowded around the steps, hoping to catch a glimpse of the famous billionaire embroiled in scandal.

Media vans lined the streets, satellite dishes pointed toward the courthouse, ready to broadcast every development.

Sophia couldn’t tear her eyes away from the screen.

Lucas’s calm demeanor in the midst of the frenzy only made the situation more surreal.

The reporters’ voices were a blur, but their words echoed in her mind: kidnapping, assault, violence.

She felt her pulse quicken.

This couldn’t be real.

She grabbed her phone and rushed downstairs, her mind racing.

As she reached the dining hall, she came to a halt when she saw Aurora sitting at the table, holding a cup of tea.

Aurora seemed distant, her eyes unfocused as she stared into the cup, absentmindedly stirring it.

She looked pale, almost as if she hadn’t slept in days.

There was a faint shadow under her eyes, and her shoulders slumped ever so slightly, giving away her exhaustion.

Sophia’s voice caught in her throat as she observed Aurora’s state.

She was clearly lost in thought, her mind somewhere far away.

The tea cup barely trembled in her hand, yet it seemed like the only thing grounding her in the moment.

Sophia took a breath, still trying to process what she had just seen on the news.

She stepped closer, her eyes fixed on Aurora, unsure of what to say.

She could feel the shock still coursing through her, and now, seeing Aurora like this, she knew something was terribly wrong.

"Aurora..." Sophia finally spoke, her voice soft yet filled with concern.

Aurora blinked, as if waking from a trance.

She looked up at Sophia, her tired eyes searching her face, but it was clear her mind was still miles away.

"What?" Aurora asked, her voice faint, almost as if she hadn’t heard what Sophia had said.

She placed the cup down on the table, her hand lingering on the handle for a moment.

Sophia bit her lip, her gaze flicking between Aurora and the TV in the other room. "You saw the news, right? About Lucas?"

Aurora quickly nodded, her voice tight. "Yes... about Lucas."

Sophia could see the strain etched on Aurora’s face.

It was clear that Lucas was all she had been thinking about.

Inwardly, Sophia wondered how she had missed this.

But then it hit her—she’d been swamped with work, drowning in deadlines and constantly worrying about her mother’s health.

And Aurora... she hadn’t been around much lately either.

Sophia had chalked it up to Aurora finding out about her relationship with Hades, but now... now, she saw things differently.

"I get it now," Sophia thought to herself, piecing together the puzzle.

She sat down beside Aurora, her voice soft as she reached for her friend’s hand. "You know, you can talk to me if you want."

Aurora sighed, her body heavy with exhaustion as she sank into the chair.

Sophia sat next to her, not pushing, just waiting.

Finally, Aurora spoke, her words coming out in a rush.

"After you left the hospital that day... I got a call from Hades," Aurora began, her eyes distant as she recalled the events. "He told me he’d been kidnapped."

Sophia raised an eyebrow, the word hanging in the air. "Kidnapped?"

Aurora nodded, her face tight with emotion. "Yes... I didn’t know what to think, but I hurried to the location he sent me. I brought some policemen with me... and when I got there, I saw Lucas." Aurora’s voice broke, her hands trembling as she buried her face in her palms. Her shoulders shook as sobs overtook her. "Lucas was arrested right there."

Sophia’s mind raced, her thoughts clicking into place.

Kidnapped? The word echoed in her mind, and suddenly, memories of something Hades had said before resurfaced.

He’d mentioned—almost smugly—that he’d ensure Lucas would never go near Aurora’s ward again.

The realization hit Sophia hard.

"That devil," Sophia muttered under her breath, her fists clenching. She understood now—it had all been part of Hades’ plan.

But her attention quickly shifted back to Aurora, who was still crying, her sobs filling the room.

Sophia slid closer and gently wrapped her arms around Aurora, pulling her into a hug.

Her hand moved in slow, soothing circles on Aurora’s back as she tried to comfort her.

"I’m so sorry, Aurora," Sophia said, her voice full of genuine sympathy. "I can only imagine how scared and worried you must be. But everything’s going to be fine, okay? We’ll figure this out."

Aurora pulled away slightly, her tear-streaked face full of doubt. "I don’t think so, Sophia," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Lucas... he tried to murder Hades. He’s become a criminal... and I don’t even know what to do anymore."

Her breathing started to grow erratic, her chest rising and falling quickly as panic gripped her.

Sophia immediately noticed, her hand moving to Aurora’s arm, gently squeezing.

"Aurora, hey... look at me. Breathe," Sophia said calmly, keeping her voice steady. "Take slow, deep breaths."

Aurora’s breathing continued to spiral, her eyes wide with fear.

Sophia kept her tone low and reassuring, guiding her friend through the panic. "In through your nose, slow... now out. You’re okay, just breathe with me."

Gradually, Aurora’s frantic breaths slowed. Sophia’s calm voice and gentle encouragement helped her regain control, her breathing returning to a steadier rhythm.

When Aurora finally relaxed, she leaned into Sophia, exhausted and fragile.

"There you go," Sophia whispered, still stroking her back. "It’s going to be okay. I promise."