Page 67 of The Omega Switch: Part 2

“Don’t let them get to you. You have the truth on your side.” He said, looking at me, his eyes serious. I nodded. “Go on. You’re going to be fine.” He said with encouragement. I walked in, my attorney leading the way to our table while Pack Vale settled into the gallery behind us. I didn't have to look to know they were there. I could feel them. The bailiff called the room to order, and everyone stood while the judge entered. Before I realized it, the opening statements began.

My family’s attorney rose confidently and walked toward the center of the courtroom. "Your Honor, this case is not about stolen patents," he began smoothly. "It is about a former employee who has mistaken collaboration for ownership." He turned slightly toward the judge, his tone measured, while my fingernails dug into my palms.

"For years, Nestwell Aesthetics has built the company through innovation and teamwork. Every successful product released by the company has been the result of dozens of employees contributing their expertise under the leadership of the Carrington family." He said, then gestured toward Arabella.

"Miss Carrington has served as the public face and creative director for Nestwell's product development, working alongside research teams, marketing specialists, chemists, and laboratory staff to bring these products to market." Then his eyes landed on me.

"Ivy Carrington, while certainly a valued laboratory employee, was one member of that larger process. She performed formulation work under supervision, assisted with product testing, and carried out assignments. She was never the sole inventor of the products she now claims as her own." I felt my face heat up at the twisted words. "The evidence will show that Nestwell followed proper corporate procedures and lawfully patented its intellectual property. At the conclusion of this trial, we are confident the Court will find that the defendant's claims are unsupported by the facts."

He returned calmly to his table. My family’s attorney was good - really good.

Then came the documents, including patent filings and board approvals. Every document he presented had Arabella or my fathers listed, and my name was barely mentioned. I started to get anxiety just hearing it. From the outside, it looked like I’d barely been involved.

My attorney leaned in. "Breathe," she said calmly. I tried. But it was difficult - this was insulting.

The witnesses were next. My family had pulled several marketing staff who testified about Arabella’s conversations and excitement about various products, and several staff testified that Arabella routinely presented product concepts during meetings - my products.

Each sentence felt like another stone added to the weight on my chest. I looked desperately at my attorney. Then, it got worse. Arabella herself took the stand, looking wounded and weary as she sat there.

"I loved having Ivy in the laboratory," she said softly. My hands clenched beneath the table. "I always tried to encourage her creativity. But sometimes she'd become attached to ideas the team had already developed. It seemed like she believed collaboration meant sole ownership." Arabella said. Lies - just more lies. I tried to keep my cool, not bothering to look over at my family.

My attorney leaned over. “Don’t react. We’ll have our chance later.” I forced myself to try to sit calmly in the chair. The first day ended shortly after five, though it felt like it had taken a week. I stood up, clenching my jaw as I walked out. My family and Arabella passed by, and I couldn't stop myself from glancing at them. They looked happy - smug. As if they had already won. Outside the courthouse, reporters shouted questions neither legal team answered. Pack Vale assembled around me, blocking me from being harassed. Hunter guided me toward the waiting SUV, and only when I was inside did I finally let out my breath.

"I don't have enough evidence," I said. It was apparent from what my family had presented that they’d taken many steps to cover their tracks. No one said anything right away. Hunter reached over and grasped my hand.

“It’s not over yet. And regardless, your family spent a lot of money on us because of the fraud case. They won’t get out of this unscathed, believe me.” He assured me.

I closed my eyes. “They have everything. They will take my mother’s company and rip every piece of me and her out of it. They’re going to take it all.” I said, leaning my head back against the seat. I felt Elias’s calming scent wash over me.

“Don’t give up yet, Ivy. No matter what happens, they can’t take the source of all of the creativity. That’s inside you.” He said, reaching out for my other hand. I wanted to believe him. But as we drove back to my boutique, all I could think about was the way Arabella had smiled while taking credit for my life's work.

Tomorrow I'd have to walk back into that room and listen to it all over again. I thought leaving my family meant making a new life for myself, far from their influence. But it seemed I’d never actually leave them behind. They just kept finding more ways to screw me over.

I didn’t talk much the rest of the drive. I didn’t want to tell Pack Vale, but I was readying myself for the inevitable. It might be time to just accept it - that Arabella, and my family, would always win against me.

Chapter 34

Ivy

The next day was no better. The morning felt like one blow after another. My notebooks had been admitted into evidence, and Elias's notes from our time working together helped prove that I'd been deeply involved in product development, but involvement wasn't ownership. Every time my attorney presented another page, Nestwell's legal team would point out that none of it meant I had come up with the ideas themselves, only expanded upon them. By the time the judge called for the afternoon recess, I felt defeated.

I waited for other people to leave before I finally stood up and wandered into the hallway. Pack Vale rushed over to comfort me, but I waved them away, not feeling like hearing their sympathy at the moment. I slipped out a side door into a small courtyard in the back, happy to be away from everyone. I sat down on the edge of a stone fountain, watching the water as I mulled over my options. How do you prove that an idea was yours?

A memory surfaced unexpectedly, something I’d forgotten about until just now. It was from when I was a child, with my mother kneeling beside me on the kitchen floor, holding up two tiny bottles.

"Don't memorize recipes, Ivy." Learn why they work. They can always be changed.” I’d nodded along at the time, but it wasn’t until I was older that I used her advice. I was thinking about what else she’d taught me when a laugh interrupted my peace. The voice was familiar - I didn't need to turn around to know that it was Arabella.

"I told you this would happen," she said, loudly enough for me to hear. "She's all claims and no proof." I looked over my shoulder to see her and her mother, Clara, keeping their distance, but still looking straight at me. Clara sighed dramatically.

"I wish she'd just let this go. It’s only going to cost her," she said.

"I almost feel sorry for her," Arabella continued. "Imagine throwing away your life over a bunch of delusions," she said, then shook her head as they turned to walk away. I knew they came here specifically to try to spook me. But their words didn’t hurt. Not when I knew how dysfunctional they were. No matter what happened, at least I wouldn’t be a bitter, mean person, terrified that another omega would always be a threat.

They walked away, but something inside me clicked. My head snapped up as I mulled over the memories I had with my mom. She’d inspired me to create formulas to solve problems. I’d done exactly that - but I never told anyone my logic behind my creations. No one ever cared to ask. They only cared that my products started selling.

This whole time, I’d been trying to prove I wrote formulas. But that wasn't what made those products mine. I was the only person alive who understood why I made each product in the first place. My heart sped up as I jumped off the fountain's edge to find my attorney.

"Ivy?" She looked up from the conference room where our legal team was regrouping.