JOCELIA'S POVAs I sat down next to Grayson, I crossed my legs and rested my left hand on his thigh. I glanced around the courtroom, feeling a surge of satisfaction. This was it. Everything was about to unfold just as I had planned.The proceedings began, and Julia Lake, the woman I had strategically planted to ruin Sylvia and her company, was called to the stand. I watched intently as her lawyer approached her with a serious expression, ready to launch into the carefully rehearsed narrative."Ms. Lake, could you please explain to the court how exactly Sylvia Bennett's company almost killed your child and left you bankrupt?" the lawyer asked, his voice somber.Julia took a deep breath, tears welling in her eyes. "I'm a single mother," she began, her voice trembling. "My husband died while in active service. I used his insurance money to purchase a property that Sylvia Bennett's company was selling. They promised me it was safe, that it was a sound investment."She paused for dramatic
SYLVIA'S POVWhen the judge announced a recess, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I desperately needed a breath of fresh air after the stunt Jocelia had pulled. Bringing in someone from my past, someone from my days as "Raven" the stripper, was a low blow, even for her. It was designed to embarrass me, to make me look like an unreliable, untrustworthy person.I glanced around the courtroom, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on me. Grayson's gaze was concerned, but I couldn't bring myself to meet his eyes for long. Instead, I focused on getting out of the room.Once outside, I took a deep breath, letting the cool air fill my lungs. I walked a few steps away from the building, trying to clear my head. My thoughts were racing. I knew Jocelia would stop at nothing to see me crumble, but I hadn't expected her to go this far."Are you okay?" Lisa, one of my lawyers, asked as she approached me.I nodded, though I didn't feel okay. "I'm fine. Just... that was a lot to take in."Lisa g
GRAYSON'S POVWe finally got back into the courtroom, and I took my seat with a renewed sense of confidence. I knew Sylvia wasn't giving up without a fight, and this pathetic attempt at character assassination by Jocelia proved they had nothing concrete—just fabricated lies for emotional blackmail.I had just finished speaking with some of my board members about pushing Sylvia's company to go public and investing more in it. I believed that after she wins today, it would increase her stock value and boost sales. This trial was a temporary storm, but Sylvia had the resilience and tenacity to weather it.As I sat down, I glanced over at Sylvia. She was talking intently with her lawyers, clearly strategizing their next move. I admired her strength and determination. Despite the odds, she never backed down. Her spirit was unbreakable, and it only made me more certain of my decision to support her both personally and professionally.I noticed Raymond sitting nearby, looking a bit tense but
GRAYSON'S POVAs we stepped out for the recess, a few of the board members I had spoken with earlier approached me. Their expressions were a mix of relief and admiration.“Grayson, you were right,” one of them said. “Sylvia is innocent. With this court hearing being televised live, everyone will see this and support her. It's going to be great for business.”I nodded, feeling a sense of pride. "Exactly. This will not only clear her name but also boost the company's reputation significantly."Just then, my phone buzzed. It was my lawyer. “Grayson, I just watched Sylvia's lawyer dismantle Julia's case. You were right to advise me to step back and let Sylvia handle things. She really didn’t need our help.”I smiled, feeling a wave of satisfaction. “I knew she was confident enough to handle this on her own. She wanted to prove herself, and she's doing just that.”As I hung up, I turned to see Sylvia and Raymond talking a short distance away. Raymond gave her an encouraging nod before head
JOCELIA'S POVI walked back into the courtroom, my nerves steeled for what was to come. I took my seat next to Grayson, who barely acknowledged me. The tension was palpable, but I kept my face composed. The judge entered, and the courtroom fell silent as he began to address us.As he spoke, I glanced at Sylvia. She looked nervous, but there was a glimmer of determination in her eyes. I shifted my focus to Julia, who seemed equally tense. Finally, the judge looked at me, then at Grayson. Grayson leaned forward slightly in his seat, a subtle but intense warning. It unsettled me, but I pushed the feeling aside, confident that I still had the judge in my pocket.The judge continued, "After much deliberation of the evidence presented, this court has reached a verdict." He looked at Julia, then at Sylvia. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.Finally, he said, "Sylvia has been proven innocent of all charges laid against her."For a moment, I couldn’t process what I had just heard
GRAYSON'S POVAs the courtroom began to empty, I was walking with one of my board members when I suddenly remembered Jocelia. I excused myself and told him to start heading back to the office while I checked on her. I found her sitting on a bench, still looking a bit shaken from earlier.“Are you ready to go?” I asked gently.She nodded, and we made our way out of the courthouse together. As soon as we stepped outside, we were swarmed by reporters, their cameras flashing and microphones thrust towards us.“Mr. Lockwood, do you have any comments on today’s verdict?” one of them asked.“Justice has finally been served,” I said firmly. “I’m grateful we can finally put this behind us.”They then turned their attention to Sylvia, who stood poised and composed despite everything she had been through.“This whole court issue has put a strain on my mental health and that of my kids,” Sylvia said, her voice steady. “But I’m happy it is finally over.”A reporter asked, “What will happen to Juli
SYLVIA'S POVAs we walked into the building, the sound of applause caught me off guard. Lisa, my lawyers, our security team, and I were met with a standing ovation from our staff. It was a surreal moment, and I felt a surge of pride and gratitude.“Thank you, thank you,” I said, raising my hands to quiet the crowd. “This victory belongs to all of us. It’s a testament to our hard work, perseverance, and unwavering belief in our mission.”I took a moment to look around at the faces of my team, each one contributing to this moment. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to our incredible staff. You’ve all gone above and beyond, working tirelessly to support our cause. To our brilliant lawyers, thank you for your expertise and relentless fight for justice. Lisa, you’ve been my anchor through all of this. And to our security team, thank you for keeping us safe.”The applause grew louder, echoing through the lobby. I felt a lump in my throat, overwhelmed by their support.“Let’s carry this
ALICE'S POVI was sitting in the living room, deep in conversation with Todd about registering his kids at Sylvia's school to create trouble from the inside. The plan was diabolical and I loved that we are now going after her kids more, and Todd seemed eager to cooperate. As we exchanged texts, I heard footsteps approaching.Jocelia walked in, looking defeated. I glanced up briefly, but continued texting Todd, maintaining my focus. Jocelia stood there, waiting for me to acknowledge her."Ain't you gonna say anything?" she demanded.I ignored her, still engrossed in my phone. She repeated, more insistent this time, "Alice, I am talking to you. Ain't you gonna say something?"I finally looked up, my patience wearing thin. "Say what, Jocelia? Say what?... That you are a stupid little girl that we shouldn't have given much hope for? The one good plan you had for your pathetic, miserable life and you screwed it up? Now Sylvia is stronger and more powerful than before. She's trending all ov