CH.37

"Your Honor!" Jenkins' voice boomed across the hushed courtroom, commanding the attention of everyone present.

Serena's gaze snapped back to the front, her stomach twisting into knots as dread and anticipation washed over her.

Across the aisle, Alex squirmed in his seat like a caged animal and his eyes darted around frantically.

Jenkins straightened the lapels of his suit jacket before clearing his throat dramatically.

"Your Honor, I call Mr. Alex Montgomery to the stand."

A hush fell over the gallery as all eyes turned toward the man in question.

Alex rose unsteadily to his feet, his face a carefully composed mask betraying no hint of the turmoil churning beneath the surface.

He walked methodically toward the witness stand, trying in vain to give off an air of confidence while keeping his back rigid.

Jenkins wasted no time once Alex was settled in. "Mr. Montgomery, is it true that you fabricated video evidence to falsely accuse Ms. Bolting of the murder of Miss. Diana Delaney?"

Alex's throat bobbed visibly as he swallowed hard. "I object-"

"Objection overruled," the judge's stern voice cut him off with a wave of his hand. "Answer the question, Mr. Montgomery."

A bead of sweat trickled down the side of Alex's face as he licked his lips nervously. "No, that's not true. The video shows exactly what happened that night." He finally stated.

Serena clenched her fists, resisting the temptation to scream in protest as she felt her nails stab cruelly into her palms. How dare this snake continue to lie through his teeth after everything he had put her through?

Her gaze drifted almost involuntarily to the intimidating figure seated beside the preceding judge's bench.

The man regarded the proceedings with an inscrutable expression, his face utterly impassive save for the intensity smoldering in those fathomless dark eyes.

As if sensing her eyes on him, he turned his head slowly until their gazes met and locked, causing the breath to stall in Serena's lungs.

Those obsidian eyes seemed to bore straight through her, stripping away all her defenses and pretenses until she felt utterly naked and exposed.

Serena felt pinned like a butterfly to a board, unable to look away or even draw a proper breath.

A fleeting glimmer of amber flickered deep within his pupils. Though it lasted only a split second, Serena knew beyond any doubt that she had seen it.

Then, just as suddenly, the spell was broken. He cocked one inscrutable eyebrow a fraction as if issuing a silent challenge. The quirk of his lips may have been the barest ghost of a smirk or could have meant nothing at all.

Serena felt her heart stutter in her chest. She recognized that look, that sense of untamed danger held in careful check. It was like a falconer's glove shielding the raptor's razor-sharp talons while it went hunting.

"I have here an expert analysis proving beyond any doubt that the video in question was doctored and digitally altered, Your Honor. I request permission to have the real, unedited footage examined by an accredited audiovisual forensics specialist here in this court." Jenkins’ voice jerked Serena back to reality as he simply held up a file triumphantly, his expression one of cool satisfaction.

The judge's piercing gaze swept over Jenkins for a long moment before he gave a curt nod. "Request granted. Call your expert witness."

A lean man in his 50s with thick-rimmed glasses perched on the bridge of his nose walked in and took the stand.

"Please state your name and expertise for the record," Jenkins instructed.

"Aiden Westbrook. I'm a private investigator specializing in digital and multimedia analysis," the man stated evenly.

He adjusted the microphone and cleared his throat. "Your Honor, I have thoroughly analyzed the video evidence submitted by the prosecution," he began without preamble in a clipped, no-nonsense tone. "The conclusions are indisputable - it has been digitally altered and spliced together from multiple separate recordings to create a false narrative."

Alex's lawyer shot up from his chair in a blind panic. "Objection, Your Honor! This is outrageous and a blatant attempt to mislead the court!"

But the judge simply fixed the man with a withering stare until he shrank back into his seat. "Overruled. Please continue," he gestured to the specialist with an air of barely contained impatience.

The man gave a curt nod. "Thank you, Your Honor. As I was saying, the original, unaltered footage only captures Ms. Bolting engaged in a heated verbal argument with Miss. Delaney. While their exchange was hostile, with Ms. Bolting yelling that she would 'deal with' the other woman for her perceived betrayal, at no point is there any suggestion whatsoever of murderous intent. Other than the physical violence which was called for."

Serena felt the air leave her lungs in a rush as waves of dizzying relief came crashing over her. Finally, after all this time, the truth was being dragged into the harsh light for all to see.

The specialist clicked a button on his laptop, and the original video clip began to play out on the courtroom's monitors.

Serena watched with her teeth clenched as her on-screen self raged at Diana, hurling accusations and threats and even a few punches before turning on her heel and storming off in a whirlwind of fury. But when the clip ended, there was no bloodshed, only two women caught in the throes of an ugly argument.

She glanced over at Alex, who was shifting uncomfortably in the witness box with a sheen of sweat glistening on his brow.

A satisfied smile played across Jenkins’ lips. "No further questions for this witness, Your Honor. I believe the evidence speaks for itself regarding Mr. Montgomery's deception and the fraudulent nature of his claims against my client."

The imposing, granite-faced figure of Judge Grayson - the infamous "Beast" - leaned back in his chair, steely eyes fixed on Serena with an inscrutable expression.

Jenkins approached the witness stand, his confident stride matching the look of grim determination etched into his chiseled features. "Your Honor, I would like to submit additional evidence that further implicates Mr. Montgomery's dishonorable conduct and moral bankruptcy."

Alex's lawyer shot to his feet. "Objection! This is a blatant and unethical attempt to assassinate my client's character with irrelevant information that has no bearing on the case at hand!"

The judge simply silenced the man's protests with an authoritative wave of his hand. "Overruled. Present your evidence, Mr. Jenkins."

Jenkins smirked evilly. He clicked a button on the multimedia controller, and a series of photographs and video clips began projecting on the screens around the courtroom in a vivid, damning slideshow.

Serena felt her heart squeeze painfully as intimate images of Alex and Diana together flashed before her eyes. Lingering touches, heated kisses, unmistakable moments of passion and intimacy that she had been so cruelly blind to in the past.

"These pieces of evidence were obtained from various sources and clearly demonstrate that while Mr. Montgomery was supposedly legally married to my client, he was simultaneously carrying on an extended, clandestine affair with Miss. Delaney behind her back," Jenkins intoned, his voice ringing with self-righteous indignation. "Such deplorable actions and a complete lack of fidelity speak volumes to his lack of honor, integrity and basic human decency. They call into question his credibility and trustworthiness as a witness in this case."

Alex's cheeks turned a hideous shade of red as he angrily shook his head. "Those images don't prove anything! They're taken out of context, edited to be misleading!"

The Judge's expression remained stony and uncompromising as he gazed down from his lofty perch on the bench. "The evidence appears quite clear and unambiguous to me, Mr. Montgomery," he stated in a tone that brooked no argument. "You have been exposed for being entangled in a maze of your own moral faults, lies, and deceptions."

"Objection, Your Honor!" Alex's lawyer shouted, his voice cracking as he leaped to his feet once more in a desperate bid to regain control of the narrative. "These materials are highly prejudicial and have absolutely no relevance to the charges facing my client! I must insist that you strike them from the record immediately."

The icy glare from the titan seated quietly was enough to rob the man of his bluster.

"Overruled, Counselor. I believe these pieces of evidence speak directly and irrefutably to Mr. Montgomery's established pattern of deceit, untrustworthiness and reprehensible conduct. They are more than relevant - they are critical to assessing his character and motivations in this case." Beast finally spoke in his deep and authoritative voice that sent delightful tremors through Serena's being and invoked tingles between her legs.

His gaze looked once again at Serena for a brief second, as if he could feel the effect his mere voice had on her, before turning his attention back to Jenkins. "Continue presenting your case!"