Chapter 268 Going to Court 6: The Reversal Begins
Alaric said, meeting Fergus's gaze unflinchingly, almost as if he was thriving under pressure, "First point, William just mentioned that he had two prior dealings with the Lockhart Group, both under Charles' supervision. They even dined together on several occasions. This indicates they had a prior relationship. The Lockhart Group has numerous witnesses who can confirm this. If necessary, we can bring them to court.
"For the second point, William agreed to help Charles because Charles knew about William's financial troubles. William has a gambling addiction and is deep in debt to loan sharks. If he doesn't pay up, he faces violent repercussions. I have evidence of William's gambling debts and photos of him frequenting gambling dens.
"Regarding the third issue, while William may not have a personal grudge against my client, someone with a deep-seated vendetta against my client coerced William into framing him. The reason William agreed to this, even if it meant prison, is simple—he lost all his money again. He was desperate for cash and took another risk.
"As for the last point, the prosecution seeks eyewitness testimony. Charles is the eyewitness in this case. I've ensured that he's at his residence, just a half-hour drive from the court. I request that the court compels Charles to appear and testify in person."
Alaric's statements were delivered with firm conviction.
His confidence seemed to sway the sentiment in the room.
Dominic's face had turned a shade of deep discomfort.
He thought, 'Wasn't everything supposed to be perfectly arranged? How did Alaric uncover so much evidence?
'Has he really found it in such a short time?
'Is it that Alaric and Cecilia are exceptionally brilliant, cutting straight to the core of the case, or is there something else at play?'
Dominic couldn't think of any other reasons.
He just refused to admit that they might be better than him.
In the courtroom, the judge conferred with the jury for a moment.
Then, the judge announced, "The court agrees with the defense's request. We will summon Charles to testify. The court is adjourned for thirty minutes."
The gavel struck.
The judge rose and left, followed by the jury.
Once they were gone, the courtroom buzzed with chatter.
Before returning to his seat, Alaric took a moment to glance over at Cecilia.
Cecilia seemed to sense his gaze and was almost waiting for it.
They locked eyes for a few seconds.
Cecilia gave him a thumbs-up.
She meant it sincerely.
She genuinely believed that Alaric's performance in the courtroom completely overshadowed seasoned lawyers like Fergus.
Fergus' face was now gloomy with frustration.
A case that was originally open and shut had taken a complete turnaround.
If this got out, what reputation would Fergus have left?
Moreover, Alaric, next to him, was smiling smugly.
"Alaric's smile is really devastating," Seraphina whispered in Cecilia's ear.
Cecilia came back to her senses.
She shifted her gaze slightly, controlling her heartbeat.
The next moment, she stood up abruptly.
"Cecilia, where are you going?" Seraphina asked, puzzled.
Seraphina thought, 'The excitement has just begun, so why is she leaving?'
"Cassius, come with me," Cecilia called out as she left.
Seraphina watched the two of them walking one after another.
She thought, 'Oh my god.
'Is Cecilia going to cheat on Alaric right here and now?!'
Of course not.
While Cecilia might have the intention, Cassius didn't have the guts!
He followed Cecilia's brisk pace.
As they approached the courtroom door to leave, Cecilia quickly blocked the way.
Cassius stood beside her, and Augustus, who had been sitting a bit farther away, quickly followed when he saw Cecilia stand up and leave.
"Vincent, the trial isn't even finished. Are you just going to leave?" Cecilia blocked Vincent's path.
She had almost been distracted by Alaric's charm and almost missed his departure.
At this moment, she couldn't let Vincent just walk away.
"Whether I leave or not is none of your business! Move out of my way!" Vincent's face darkened.
"Why the anger, Vincent? Feeling guilty about something?" Cecilia's tone was sharp, teasing.
"What are you blabbering about? Move aside, right now!" Vincent was clearly desperate to get away.
He wasn't completely stupid.
He knew that with Charles testifying, his own exposure was almost guaranteed.
There was no chance for him to escape now.
"Vincent, there are reporters outside. Are you really going to ditch Grandmom like this? Aren't you worried people will say your piety is just an act?" Cecilia pressed on.
"Are you deliberately trying to go against me?" Vincent's voice was filled with rage, teeth clenched.
Surrounded by people, he couldn't afford to yell and had to keep his anger in check.
"I'm doing this for your own good, Vincent. Please, return to your seat."
"Impudent little..." The last word was cut off as Cassius suddenly grabbed Vincent's hand when he tried to push Cecilia aside.
With a forceful grip, the bones in Vincent's hand cracked loudly.
As Vincent yelped in pain, Cecilia and Cassius coordinated seamlessly. Cecilia quickly covered Vincent's mouth to prevent him from making a scene.
She leaned in close, whispering menacingly, "Vincent, you'd better get back to your seat. Otherwise, if you end up missing an arm or a leg… you know Mr. Blackburn of the Blackburn family has a reputation for being ruthless."
Vincent's eyes widened in a mix of terror and intense fury as he stared at Cecilia.
Cecilia released her grip, and Cassius did the same. Vincent glared at them, knowing he had no real chance of escaping.
He gritted his teeth, enduring the pain in his hand, and reluctantly returned to his seat.
As Vincent settled back down, Cecilia glanced at him with satisfaction and turned to Augustus.
Augustus gave a respectful nod and promptly took the seat next to Vincent.
Vincent's face darkened to an extreme as he looked at Augustus. Though he had given in for now, he was plotting ways to leave.
However, he had never mentioned his scheming to Ophelia, so she had no clue about the true instigators behind this mess—him and Charles. He certainly couldn't let Ophelia find out, or she might decide to leave him!
Vincent was now in a state of frantic anxiety, like a rat trapped in a maze.
Helpless, he fumed internally.
Cecilia, on the other hand, felt a wave of satisfaction.
Recalling how Vincent had harmed them in her past life, leading to the accelerated downfall of their family, she wanted nothing more than to expose his true face and see him suffer.
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