Chapter 270 Going to Court 8: A Complete Victory
William was clearly rattled now that the truth had been exposed. His demeanor was all nerves, and he started avoiding Alaric's gaze.
"What doubts are there about William?" the judge asked.
Alaric spoke up, his voice clear and assertive, "The prosecution mentioned that William and my client have no personal grievances. So why is he accusing my client of bribery and tax evasion? Isn't it odd that there's no apparent reason for such baseless accusations?"
The entire courtroom was riveted by Alaric's remarks.
It was hard not to admire his quick thinking.
While everyone was still grappling with the reversal of truth, Alaric had already shifted the focus to a new angle.
The judge nodded in agreement. "Indeed, William's accusations raise questions."
"Your Honor, may I have permission to question William further?" Alaric requested.
"Granted."
Alaric turned his calm, piercing gaze on William. "Mr. Green, why did you accuse my client? Has my client ever had any issues with you before?"
William seemed at a loss for words, unable to provide a coherent answer.
Alaric continued, his tone carrying an unmistakable edge, "Mr. Green, as I mentioned earlier, your performance in court could impact your own sentence. You'd better consider the consequences of not answering."
"Objection!" Fergus shot up from his seat. "I object to the defendant's attorney intimidating the witness!"
"I'm merely stating facts, not resorting to intimidation," Alaric countered. "Mr. Jensen, you're the prosecutor, not the witness's defense attorney. Your eagerness to support the witness makes one wonder if there's some sort of backdoor deal between you two."
"Mr. Whitaker, watch your words. I could sue you for defamation!" Fergus's face turned a shade of crimson.
Alaric dismissed Fergus's outburst with a wave, addressing the judge directly, "Your Honor, this matter is crucial to uncovering the full truth of the case. Please allow me to continue questioning William."
The judge paused for a moment, then nodded. "Permission granted."
"Thank you, Your Honor," Alaric replied respectfully, then turned back to William. "Mr. Green, were you instructed by someone to make these accusations?"
William remained silent, his body trembling visibly.
Alaric seized the moment to drive his point home. "Let me give Mr. Green a quick lesson in the laws of the Yakurosean Empire. In cases of criminal charges, the mastermind bears full responsibility, while the executor faces secondary liability. What that means is, if you name the person who instructed you, that individual will face the maximum penalty for this frame-up. But if you stay silent, all the responsibility falls squarely on you." Alaric's words were a thinly veiled threat.
Fergus, who had risen to object, suddenly sat back down.
As a prosecutor, he wasn't the defense lawyer for the informant. Overstepping could bring unwanted scrutiny from the court—a risk not worth taking.
He clenched his teeth, grudgingly acknowledging Alaric's impressive skill. Alaric had a knack for hitting precisely where it hurt, seizing control of the situation.
This was clearly Alaric's domain now.
"Alright... it was Vincent!" William blurted out, naming the culprit outright.
Alaric's brow furrowed.
Vincent's reaction was immediate and frantic. "No way, it wasn't me! Why would I frame Theodore?"
"Because you're desperate to see Theodore ousted so you can take his place. You orchestrated this whole thing to get rid of him and then instructed me to frame him. You promised me money to clear my debt if I made sure Theodore went down."
"No, that's a lie! I didn't do any such thing!" Vincent was practically beside himself, his defense a jumble of denials.
Alaric remained composed. "When did he instruct you to do this?"
"A week ago. He offered me a sum of money to use the evidence from our previous activities to frame Theodore. He said that once Theodore was imprisoned, he'd help me pay off my high-interest loans. I blew through the last contract payment and now I'm deep in debt, facing constant threats. That's why I had no choice but to go along with Vincent's plan."
"I find that hard to believe. No one would be foolish enough to use their own criminal activities to frame someone else, knowing full well that if it's uncovered, it's a one-way ticket to ruin. Vincent might want the chairman position of the Lockhart Group, but he wouldn't gamble with his own life." Alaric challenged William's story with skepticism.
Vincent quickly chimed in, "Yes, I wouldn't be that stupid."
"Mr. Green, I need you to be honest with us," Alaric said, his gaze intensifying.
William was visibly shaken by the young man's commanding presence. He locked eyes with Alaric, a chill running down his spine as if Alaric could see right through him.
Panic set in.
Originally, William had agreed to frame Theodore and serve time in prison out of fear of being killed by loan sharks. The person he made the deal with promised him a substantial sum of money upon his release.
Now, the stakes had changed.
Revealing the person behind the plot would likely mean losing any chance of payment, while staying silent might lead to an uncertain and lengthy prison sentence.
Caught between these grim choices, William faltered.
His eyes squeezed shut.
With a sudden, heavy thud, he collapsed to the ground, creating a commotion.
The room erupted into chaos as everyone rushed to William's side. Alaric's expression grew cold; William's attempt at cunning was only pushing him further into a corner. Even if from the moment he agreed to testify against Theodore, his fate was sealed no matter the outcome, had he been honest, he wouldn't have faced such a miserable and disgraceful end.
The on-site doctor quickly assessed William, diagnosing him with a suspected cerebral hemorrhage.
He was immediately transported to the hospital, and the case was postponed for a later review.
With Theodore's innocence clear, the judge declared him not guilty and ordered his immediate release.
Charles and Vincent, however, faced arrest on charges of bribery and tax evasion.
They were taken into custody and would have to return to court at a later date for sentencing.
As the courtroom emptied, Theodore and Alaric made their way out together. Cecilia was waiting outside and rushed over when she saw them.
"Dad," she called out.
Theodore smiled and said, "We owe it all to Alaric this time."
Cecilia turned to Alaric, who wore a smug grin. "No need to thank me. We're family, after all."
She thought to herself, 'He's just soaking up the glory. Family, huh?'
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