Chapter 104

Lillian

I took my seat in between Jade and Oliver.

" What took you so long?" She whispered at my side as we all stood up to honour the judge's presence.

" I had a pee break," I whispered back.

I felt selfish, like I just made a very grave mistake.

Closing my eyes, I sat back down; I could have ended this five minutes ago. I wouldn't have to sit here and listen to men in wigs talk if I hadn't refused his offer.

I refused to drop the case, and now, Zayden's father vowed never to let Zayden out of prison bars if, by any chance, we win this case.

I can't degrade myself by apologising publicly for a crime I know too well Aiden committed. And I have a very strong feeling that Zayden would approve of my decision.

Zayden's father walked in a minute later and sat at the other rows of chairs along with Loren.

It seems Oliver was having a heated dispute with his father for taking sides with me and Zayden.

They barely looked at each other, and I had noticed how Loren threw glares his way.

I sighed deeply; I don't get why fathers always want their sons to follow in every footsteps they take, whether bad or good.

I thought to my daughter. I would give her the freedom to choose whatever she wants to become. I'm not going to impose my own beliefs on her, well except she's going astray.

The double doors opened, and Aiden was brought forward in handcuffs and taken to the defendant's table.

He looked very composed like he was walking into the boardroom. My lawyer soon appeared and took his place behind a desk.

And then the verdict began.

It went on for almost an hour. My fingers were trembling because the recording I brought was tagged fake; the cops were ordered to get CCTV footage from the office since we had the conversation at the company, but guess what?

They did bring CCTV footage, but I wasn't in it.

It only showed Aiden walking around the room, then to the glass wall, and back to his desk.

I glanced over at Zayden's dad as his lawyer was busy sprouting out lies. He had a cocky smile on his face.

They had tampered with it or maybe paid off the media forensics experts to give false results.

So in summary, we lost the first half of the verdict before we were dismissed for an hour break.

" So what are we supposed to do now? That old man probably paid everyone off." Jade spoke, tapping her fingers on the table.

We went to a nearby restaurant to wait out the time before the next verdict.

Oliver came to join us a minute later with two mugs in his hand. I watched as he placed a kiss on her lips before sitting beside her.

I rolled my eyes, ignoring them." Sage is the only hope we have left."

Oliver took a sip from his drink before speaking." Have you gone to see her since then?"

I shook my head." I haven't gotten the chance to but she said she will testify against him."

Oliver had a conflicted look on his face." I'm worried about her; she has always wanted my father's approval, and I just pray it doesn't interfere with her decision. I just hope it all turns out well."

I sighed heavily.

I'm tired of all this. The weight of all these problem was becoming too much to bear.

I just want to go back home and be with Zayden and our daughter. But that is not happening anytime soon, at least not now.

" I should have talked to one of the criminals he hired while I had the chance. They would have testified if they were promised something in return." He phrased.

My eyes widened in hope." You still can! Where are they now?"

He shook his head." They've been transferred to Fox River Prison. There's no talking to them now."

My shoulders flopped. If only Falco was still alive then I wouldn't be this worried.

Jade squeezed my hand." Don't worry. We will win this."

I nodded, and we waited in silence till we were called back to the courtroom.

I was summoned by my lawyer since I was the victim.

I took my seat on the witness stand which was directly opposite Aiden. He had his cold eyes on me, his expression not changing.

My blood ran cold, I had a feeling that that stare was a warning. If by any chance we lost this case and he walked out of here free, then he would come after me for ruining his reputation.

" Mrs Lillan Kent, can you please tell everyone present how you came to find out Aiden was the culprit behind your kidnapping?" My lawyer asked.

I clenched my fingers tightly, trying to calm myself and say what I remembered.

" One of his accomplices mentioned the use of the pronoun 'he'." I started but was immediately interrupted by Aiden's lawyer.

" Objection my lord. That pronoun might be used to refer to any man in particular."

I frowned deeply as the courtroom fell silent.

"Please allow my client to finish before you object." My lawyer grinned out.

" Overruled", The judge spoke, his voice echoing in the room." Please continue, Mrs Kent."

I cleared my throat." Another of his accomplices used the same pronoun a day later. And then when they deemed it time to kill me, one of the other accomplices mentioned his name."

The courtroom immediately went up in whispers.

" Order!" The judge yelled hitting his gavel on the desk.

I was given the signal to continue my explanation." They mentioned his name and told me of all his hidden agendas. And then it occurred to me that the night before I got kidnapped he came to see me in my workplace with a motive of saying just hi. I didn't think too much about it then, but he followed me to my apartment to find out where I lived and then that same night,I was abducted."

Aiden's lawyer stood on his feet immediately." Objection my lord. We can't accept her statement without proof."

" Sustained. You speak of an accomplice, do you have any proof to sustain this claim." The judge asked.

I only nodded and my lawyer spoke in my place." My lord, permit me to call to the stand our witness and the accomplice to Aiden Kent for questioning."

I took note of Aiden's expression and my heart fell. He remained calm, like he already won and I was just wasting my time.

"Call the witness to the stand."

The double doors opened and Sage was brought forward in cuffs. I returned to my seat beside Jade while Sage took her place on the witness stand.

Our eyes jammed for a brief moment and I saw conflict in her eyes.

My heart was beating erratically. Sage was my last hope.

And so they began questioning her.

" Miss Sage Smith, do you testify that Aiden was the mastermind behind the kidnapping of Lillan Kent and that he had ordered you to carry out the job?"

She remained quiet, her lips quivering.

We waited for her to speak but she didn't.

" We are waiting for your response, Mrs Smith." The judge spoke.

She finally raised her eyes and looked at Aiden and then her father.

It then confirmed my fears. I could only hope Sage would do the right thing.

" You are here because you were caught by the cops at the crime scene. Now, Mrs Smith, did Aiden order you to kidnap Mrs Kent or not?" My lawyer asked.

" What is wrong with her?" Jade whispered as she squeezed my hand.

" I honestly don't know. She said she would testify." I answered, my eyes never leaving hers. I silently prayed that we should make eye contact again and that she should read my eyes.

" No, I worked alone." She finally spoke, and the courtroom turned into an uproar.

My heart squeezed in my chest as I stared at her.

Aiden had a triumphant smirk on his face alongside his father.

" I'll ask one last time. Did Aiden order you to kidnap Lillian?"

She didn't hesitate this time as she spilled lies from her mouth.

" I acted all on my own because I was jealous of her marriage with Zayden. I hired the people to abduct her and handled all operations on my own. And I never said or mentioned Aiden's name to her nor did the people I hired. I will willingly accept any punishment given to me and compensate for the damages caused to Lillian." She finished speaking and I just stared at her in horror.

It was like she had memorized those words.

I clenched my fists hard, my blood boiling.

The judge hit his gavel on his desk again." We've gotten a confession from the witness. It is settled then."

My breath hitched.

No, it can't end like this.

Without thinking, I stood on my feet, and my voice echoed in the room." Sage! Don't make the same mistake twice."

" Do not interrupt the process if not called upon Mrs Kent. You're obstructing justice." The judge glared at me coldly.

Sage avoided my eyes but remained silent even as she was taken out of the courtroom.

It's over now, we had lost.

Maybe if I had taken up that offer then I wouldn't be regretting it now.

" I will now give my verdict." The judge mentioned.

"I hereby find Aiden Kent not guilty of the crimes accused of him by Lillan Kent. And Lillian Kent, you are to pay for damages, including defamation of character, as requested by the accused."

My eyes stang, tears threatening to fall.

Not only did I let Zayden down, but now I had to defame myself by releasing a public apology to Aiden.

Aiden was pure evil, his father was the worst.

" They threatened her," Oliver said. He didn't look particularly happy that his sister would suffer in prison." My father threatened her or she would have spoken up."

I was about to speak when he got up immediately and dashed out of the courtroom.

I called him back but he didn't respond and just ran out of the room.

We were not dismissed yet as the judge hadn't taken his leave.

A few minutes later,

Just as the officer was uncuffing Aiden, the door burst open again making all heads turn to the direction of the sound.