Chapter 7: The Trial Begins
The preliminary hearing was held at the Supreme Court building in the heart of the capital. The steps were crowded with journalists, camera crews, and curious onlookers.
Clara stepped out of the tinted vehicle wearing a simple, elegant dark blue dress that comfortably accommodated her pregnancy. Beside her, Julian walked with unwavering confidence, his arm gently guiding her past the shouting reporters.
Inside the courtroom, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Victoria sat at the defense table beside her high-profile legal team and her father, Lord Arthur Sterling. Victoria’s face was a mask of cold arrogance, though her hands clenched nervously under the table whenever her eyes met Julian's.
"Your Honor," Victoria’s lead attorney began, stepping up to the podium. "The defense moves to dismiss all charges of assault and fraud. The plaintiff, Clara Bennett, is a former disgruntled employee who used stolen personal items to fabricate a narrative against my client."
The judge looked over his spectacles at Julian's legal representative. "Response?"
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Julian’s attorney stood up calmly. "Your Honor, we submit into evidence not only the original encrypted hard drive retrieved from the Sterling firm, but also security footage from St. Jude’s Cemetery, proving physical assault and verbal intimidation."
Victoria’s attorney paled slightly. They hadn't realized Julian had secured high-definition surveillance footage from the cemetery’s private security system.
