Chapter 199 Guilty as Charged
"Joyce's heart skipped a beat. ""What happened?"" she asked.
The butler replied, ""Mrs. Blackwood said something to Mr. Blackwood, and he had a heart attack. He's in the hospital, and it's critical.""
Joyce's hands trembled. ""I'll be right there,"" she said, her voice shaking.
Just as she was about to leave, the opposing lawyer approached. ""Ms. Blackwood, my client is ready. We can start now.""
Joyce glanced at Isabella, who looked smug. She realized what was happening. ""I need a postponement. It's an emergency,"" she said.
The opposing lawyer frowned. ""Sorry, Ms. Blackwood. My client is ill. If you leave, we'll consider it a withdrawal.""
Joyce clenched her fists. This was their plan all along. Benjamin's illness wasn't a coincidence; it was all part of their scheme.
Darren's warning made sense now. If she left, she'd face penalties and ruin her reputation. But she couldn't ignore Benjamin's condition.
A warm hand touched her head. ""Joyce, what's going on?"" Sebastian asked.
Tears welled up in Joyce's eyes. ""Sebastian, my dad's in the hospital. It's serious.""
Sebastian called the hospital. ""It's true,"" he said. ""Dad had a heart attack. It's critical.""
Joyce's tears flowed. She knew how fragile heart conditions were.
Sebastian comforted her. ""We'll go to the hospital. I'll get someone to handle things here.""
He pulled her to leave, but Joyce saw Isabella's smug smile. If she left, she'd lose the case and face penalties. And Isabella would walk free.
""Sebastian, I can't leave. I have to win this case,"" Joyce said, determined.
Sebastian's heart ached seeing her pain. ""Alright, I'll go to the hospital. You stay here. Trust me, Dad will be fine.""
He hugged her. ""Don't be afraid. I'm here. Dad will be okay.""
Joyce was trembling, but Sebastian had to leave for the hospital. After a few comforting words, he rushed out.
Isabella's smug look turned to panic when Joyce stayed in court. She couldn't believe Joyce was still focused on the case with her dad critically ill.
Joyce wiped her tears, took a deep breath, and calmed herself. Sophia handed her a cup of water, softly saying, ""Joyce, don't worry, Mr. Blackwood will be fine."" Joyce nodded.
The case continued. While everyone expected Joyce to falter, she fought fiercely, growing stronger with each argument.
Her sharp words left the opposing lawyer speechless. Joyce proved Isabella tampered with her brakes and incited fans to throw acid, injuring Sebastian. Both charges were confirmed.
When the opposing lawyer tried to use Isabella's depression to reduce her sentence, Joyce called Isabella's psychologist to the stand. The psychologist testified Isabella was faking it.
Isabella was stunned and screamed, ""Joyce, I'll kill you.""
Joyce's face was cold. ""Isabella, if anything happens to my dad, you'll pay.""
The court sentenced Isabella to ten years for multiple crimes. Joyce clenched her fists and glared at Darren. ""Mr. Vale, if my dad's illness is your doing, you'll be next.""
She gathered her things and left. Darren's face turned pale. His plan had failed, and Isabella got a longer sentence than expected.
Isabella cried out to Darren, ""Dad, save me. I don't want to go to jail. They bully me every day.""
The guards dragged her away, throwing her into prison. The prison's queen bee, Lisa Grant, sneered. ""Didn't someone say her rich dad would get her out? Why is she back? Let's set some rules.""
Lisa signaled to a few women, who approached Isabella with smiles. Isabella backed away in fear. ""Don't hit me. My dad won't let you get away with this.""
Lisa sneered. ""We're going to beat the crap out of you!""
Someone grabbed Isabella's hair and slammed her into the wall, covering her head in blood. A flurry of punches and kicks followed, leaving her humiliated and wishing for death.
In her heart, she screamed, 'Joyce, I will never forgive you!'"
