The courtroom fell silent. Even the actors Gregory hired could not help being moved by Steven's speech and the victim's story,
casting looks of undisguised contempt and disdain at Shannon. The image of Linny's gruesome death by gunshot resurfaced in
Bella's mind cruelly once again.
Bella felt as if her heart was twisted by a knife. She covered her ears and closed her eyes, feeling as if she had fallen into a
vacuum-sealed jar. Her smooth forehead was covered by sweat, almost suffocating her.
"Bella, don't think about it... I'm here." Justin quickly held her shoulder and pulled her into his embrace, resting her forehead on
his shoulder and comforting her softly.
Although she was not related to Linny, witnessing the girl's death was a near-fatal blow to someone as kind as Bella.
"Justin... I still think that I'm a sinner." Bella sobbed and choked up beside the man.
Listening to her sobs, Justin felt heartbroken. He comforted her with reddened eyes, "Don't say that. My Bella is not a sinner. The
two people at the defendant's stand are the real unforgivable evildoers." After Steven finished speaking, it was the defendant's
turn to make her statement.
Shannon tearfully delivered the speech Hunter had prepared for her, the acting skills from her early years coming into use.
"Your Honor, what reason do I have to kill a maid? What would I gain from it? This might all stem from personal grudges between
Linny and Winston. After all, they're of the same status in the Salvador Corporation, and Winston always acted high and mighty
because he was my aide, often bullying the maids. Linny must have offended him in private, causing him to have murderous
intent!" "Nonsense!"
Winston had turned into the state's witness, only thinking about protecting himself. He immediately retorted, "Your Honor, Linny
had dirt on Shannon, so she paid me to get rid of her! Shannon is the mastermind. I followed her orders as I was afraid of her
status as the Salvador Corporation's lady boss. Otherwise, my life could be in danger! Even so, she still sent someone after me
while I was in prison! I still have scars on my neck!"
"Slander! If had known you were a thug abroad, I wouldn't even have hired you!" Shannon screamed. Her voice was hoarse, and
the scene turned into a spectacle of the two criminals biting at each other.
"When you gave the order, Bethany Salvador was with us! She must've known clearly what you're planning!"
Immediately, the court burst into an uproar.
Everyone's surprised gazes gathered on Bethany's pale-white face.
Even her own father, Gregory, threw a side eye at her, his eyes full of shock and suspicion.
"No... No! I don't know anything!"
Bethany shook her head het
= shook her head int
feeling as if she were sitting needles, on the verge of tears.
A devastatingly cruel thought even formed in her mind.
Bethany hoped Steven would win the case and quickly convict Shannon, sparing her from being dragged down with her.
After all, her mother was an unsalvageable drug addict. She did not have any humanity left and would likely implicate her to save
herself.
"Silence! The court is a serious place. Do not make noise!" Clarence glanced at Bethany coldly, hitting the gavel twice.
Bella and Justin exchanged a complicated glance.
They knew Winston only dragged Bethany down because he was backed into a corner. They also knew that Bethany had
undeniable involvement in that incident.
However, it would be challeng
convict her without evidence, or the ones standing in the defendant's dock today would be both mother and daughter.
But it did not matter. When the nest was overturned, no egg would remain unbroken.