Thus, the two friends opted for a quiet Sunday at home, hoping for a day free from interruptions. But even within the confines of their sanctuary, they weren’t spared from the one name Serena desperately wished to avoid.
That afternoon, the television flickered to life, and a segment featuring Nathaniel’s latest venture unfolded before their eyes. An interview with Vanessa Holt, who stood confidently by his side, filled the screen.
Alice muttered a curse under her breath, frustration evident in her tone.
Serena felt a tightening in her stomach. The sight of Nathaniel alongside Vanessa ignited a familiar flame of jealousy and hurt within her.
“Breaking news: CEO of Kline BioSolutions and NC Pharmacies, Nathaniel Thorne, held a groundbreaking ceremony at Fourth Drive Avenue earlier today,” the news anchor announced, and the screen transitioned to live coverage.
Nathaniel stood confidently in front of a vast expanse of cleared land. Behind him, the ceremonial podium was still adorned with navy cloth. A row of gold-plated shovels stood firmly planted in the freshly turned soil, the symbolic groundbreaking already completed.
Dressed impeccably in a charcoal suit, Nathaniel faced the reporters with an air of authority. “A year from now, a new tower will rise on this land, and it will bear my father’s name,” he declared, his voice steady and resolute.
He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle over the crowd, which fell silent in anticipation.
“I am funding a research institute dedicated to the study of neurological disorders, an area that desperately needs more attention and resources. Within this same building, we will also establish a foundation to support victims of crime a sanctuary for those who cannot defend themselves against injustice… just as my family once couldn’t, against Victor Kline.”
A murmur of interest rippled through the gathered reporters.
The sound of cameras clicking resonated in the air, capturing every moment.
Nathaniel turned slightly, acknowledging Vanessa Holt beside him. She stood poised, her fitted blazer accentuating her confidence, relishing the attention as the cameras flashed.
“And I want to express my gratitude to Vanessa and her father, Councilor Mathew Holt, for their invaluable support in making this project possible,” Nathaniel continued, his eyes glinting with determination.
Vanessa stepped closer, clearly savoring the spotlight. “My father and I wholeheartedly support Nathan’s vision. This institute won’t just advance neurological research; it will create jobs, strengthen our healthcare system, and foster Jong-term economic growth in Velmon City. We are committed to supporting more of his initiatives.”
Then, a reporter raised a question that sent a chill down Serena’s spine. “Mr. Thorne, tomorrow marks the second hearing in the criminal case against Victor Kline. What can the public expect?”
Nathaniel’s gaze hardened, a flicker of anger crossing his features as he looked into the camera. His jaw clenched tightly before he replied, “Tomorrow, the people of Velmon City will witness the depths of Victor Kline’s brutality.”
Serena swallowed hard, her eyes glued to the TV screen. A shiver ran down her spine as she processed his words.
She was aware that there was evidence against Victor, but she had never grasped the full extent of it. A part of her yearned to hear the truth directly, to finally see the situation through Nathaniel’s eyes.
Turning to Alice, she whispered, “Let’s attend the hearing.”
Alice’s jaw dropped in surprise, her eyes wide. She blinked rapidly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Really? I… I want to know more too.”
And so it was decided. The following day, Serena and Alice donned disguises and made their way to the courthouse. To their relief, the seats were packed; a sea of spectators, reporters, and curious locals filled perfect, coverfor them to blend in. They slipped into the back row, their hearts racing with anticipation.
Nathaniel was called in first to identify the next witness, and what unfolded next left Serena and Alice frozen in their seats. Each word revealed a truth far darker than they had anticipated, unraveling a narrative that would change everything.
The courtroom doors creaked open, a sound that echoed through the tense atmosphere, bringing an abrupt hush over the gathered crowd. The court attendant’s voice rang out with authority, “All rise for the Honorable Judge Thomas.”
In the farthest corner of the room, Serena and Alice rose along with the others, their faces obscured by scarves and oversized glasses, a deliberate choice to shield their identities. The air was thick with anticipation, the whispers of reporters mingling with the rustle of spectators shifting in their seats. Every bench was occupied, the collective curiosity palpable even in the stillness of the moment.
Serena’s gaze flickered across the front rows, landing on familiar faces. There, amidst the sea of onlookers, were Nathaniel’s friends, their expressions a mix of concern and intrigue. Bianca was also present, her demeanor tense as she sat beside her assistant, her fingers tapping nervously on the armrest.
As Judge Thomas settled into his chair, the court attendant announced, “Case number 47-52: The People of Velmon City versus Victor Kline.”
“Prosecution, are you ready to proceed?” the judge inquired, his tone steady and commanding.
Mr. Brown, the Prosecutor, stepped forward with a determined posture. “Ready, Your Honor.”
“And the defense?” the judge asked, turning his attention to Victor Kline’s attorney, who nodded affirmatively. “Ready, Your Honor.”
The judge’s eyes scanned the documents laid out before him. “We will now continue with the presentation of evidence. Prosecution, call your next witness.”
Standing tall, Mr. Brown announced, “The People call Nathaniel Thorne to the stand.”
As Nathaniel approached, the courtroom held its breath, the atmosphere thick with tension. He began to recount the painstaking process of gathering evidence against Victor. “Victor put me in a position where I could access older files. Bit by bit, I uncovered solid proof that the patent for Endolex had been stolen from my father. But the real breakthrough came during a conversation I had with Victor eight months ago.”
He paused, the weight of his memories evident on his face, his expression tightening as he recalled the moment.
“I fabricated a story about one of our distributors,” Nathaniel continued, his voice steady yet laced with an underlying intensity. “I made it sound as though someone was threatening the company, and I was at a loss for how to handle it.”
His gaze flickered toward Victor, icy and unwavering. “I knew he had someone who dealt with his….. darker affairs. I just needed him to confess.”
“And after years of trying to earn his trust, he finally did. Victor revealed that he had a loyal enforcer, a man who had been cleaning up his messes for decades.”
A murmur rippled through the courtroom, a wave of unease washing over the spectators.
“His name is Jack Spell,” Nathaniel stated, his voice firm. “An old friend of Victor’s from high school. Victor even offered to ‘lend him to me.”
He took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as the gravity of his words settled in. “Jack and I met a few times-casual drinks, light conversation-nothing that would raise suspicion. But during our fourth meeting, he broke down. He confessed to everything he had done in Victor Kline’s name… and I recorded our conversation.”
As the recording began to play, Serena and Alice clutched each other’s hands tightly, their hearts racing. Jack Spell’s voice filled the courtroom, loud and disturbingly self-assured.
Jack: “I’ve done many jobs for Victor. So don’t worry, Nathan. You can trust me. I can assure you nothing will lead back to you.”
Nathaniel: “Give me proof. Name the biggest job you’ve done for Victor and you both still got away with.”
Jack: “Let’s see. There’s kidnapping, but I won’t tell you about that. Haha. Oh, how about a dead man’s story?”
Jack’s laughter echoed through the room, clearly intoxicated, his bravado unsettling.
Jack: “Neal Collins. Does that ring a bell? Victor stole his patent, but the fool wouldn’t shut up. So I abducted him. Took him to an abandoned warehouse outside Velmon City. There, my men and I not only beat him up, but we also plucked out his nails and pulled out his teeth.”
A collective gasp swept through the courtroom, eyes widening in horror.
Jack: “The idiot screamed like a madman!”
Jack: “I warned him, you know. I threatened him several times. We trailed his family for weeks, scared the hell out of them. I told them Victor had the police in his pocket, but Neal wouldn’t shut up! Neal fucking Collins wanted to die!”
The courtroom was gripped by a chilling silence, the weight of Jack’s words hanging in the air.
Jack: “So I gave the guy what he wanted. My men and I beat him to death. When we were done with him, he was covered in blood.”
The recording fell silent for a moment before Nathaniel’s strained voice broke through.
Nathaniel: “What… what exactly did you do to Mr. Collins’s family?”
Jack: “Oh, you know. Harassed them at home. His kid, I forgot his name, but my men went to the boy’s school and pushed him into a speeding car. Lucky kid got saved because the driver hit the brakes in time.”
Jack: “After Neal Collins died, his wife insisted on investigating his death, so we had to scare her and the kid a daway. Took a while. I heard Neal kid needed therapy for trauma. But honestly? If only Neal had just shut up. So what if his patent got stolen? At least he’d still be alive. But no, that guy wanted drama. So he got more than drama.”
Nathaniel: “Whatever happened to Neal’s wife and son?”
Jack: “I don’t know. They finally got scared and left.”
Nathaniel: “And what if they come back for revenge?”
Jack: “Revenge? Haha! Who are they? Lowlifes. No court will listen to them because money is power.”
The recording concluded, leaving a heavy stillness in its wake.
Bianca, sitting in the front row, could no longer contain her anguish. She broke down, her sobs echoing through the courtroom, and her assistant rushed to steady her. Nathaniel, unable to bear the sight of his mother in distress, instinctively moved as if to comfort her.
Once the evidence was admitted, Jack Spell was called to the stand. The prosecution meticulously laid out the case, revealing how Jack had orchestrated the attack that led to Neal Collins’s death. Additional documents and testimonies painted a damning picture of Jack acting under Victor Kline’s orders Email exchanges and text messages further implicated Victor, but the most incriminating evidence was the bank transfers from Victor’s account to Jack’s.
Throughout the proceedings, Victor’s lawyers found themselves powerless, their objections repeatedly overruled by the judge.
By the time Jack Spell concluded his sworn testimony, he admitted, “Yes. My men and I killed Neal Collins under Victor Kline’s orders.”
In a fit of rage, Bianca stood up, pointing an accusatory finger at both Jack and Victor. “You and Victor deserve to die! You both deserve to die for what you did to my husband-to me and my son!”
The courtroom erupted into chaos, the tension spilling over as Bianca’s emotional outburst reverberated through the room. She was quickly escorted outside for medical attention, her cries echoing in the hall.
Serena watched, her heart racing as she witnessed the raw, trembling fury in Bianca’s eyes.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.