Chapter 8: Confronting the Truth
Clara took the witness stand, her hand resting reassuringly over her belly. Despite her trembling inside, her voice remained steady and clear as she answered the prosecutor's questions.
She detailed her time at the Vance estate, the night she stumbled upon the hidden financial transfers, and the subsequent threats from Victoria that forced her to flee.
"And why didn't you go to the police immediately, Miss Bennett?" the prosecutor asked softly.
Clara looked directly at Victoria, whose cold glare was now cracking with anxiety. "Because when powerful people tell you that no one will believe you, you start to believe them. I was terrified not just for myself, but for the life growing inside me."
When it was time for cross-examination, Victoria’s lawyer tried to paint Clara as a scheming fortune hunter who seduced Julian Vance for money.
Before the attorney could finish his harsh interrogation, Julian stood up from his seat in the gallery.
"Objection, Your Honor," Julian’s attorney barked instantly, but Julian’s presence alone silenced the room. Julian looked directly at the judge.
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"Your Honor," Julian spoke, his voice echoing in the grand room. "If the defense wishes to question Miss Bennett's motives, let them direct those questions to me. Clara requested no money, no title, and no settlement when she left. She sought only safety. Everything she has stated is the absolute truth."
The judge banged his gavel. "Order in the court! Mr. Vance, please remain seated, but point taken."
