Chapter 138: The Court Case

Words : 1097 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

Chapter 138: The Court Case "Yes, Doctor Athena... go on. What do you have to tell us?" Elder Timothy asked, his voice a mix of authority and curiosity, granting Athena the opportunity to speak. As she obliged and stood up, a pin-drop silence enveloped the large hall, the air thick with anticipation as the congregation wondered what the benevolent doctor had to say. "First of all, thank you, Elder Timothy, for giving me this privilege to speak..." Athena began, her shoulders high, spine straight, and nose tilted upward, exuding a confidence that shimmered brightly, overshadowing the trembling nerves that threatened to bubble to the surface. The last time she had stood in this hall, she was scorned, jeered at, and ultimately pushed away, a painful memory she carried with her. "I want to make a plea, actually. Six years ago, during a similar court case, I found myself isolated at the witness stand, while the plaintiff stood among the congregation, silent and untouched until the case was concluded. I wouldn’t want that today." "So, you want him to take the witness box too?" Elder Timothy asked, weaving his fingers together on the raised platform, his tone measured. "Not at all. I would prefer that extra seats be brought and arranged before us. Then, we can all take those seats—defendants and plaintiff alike. Also, I plead that he proceed with his evidences first, considering he is the one who initiated this case. I’d like to hear his viewpoints first and understand why he has taken this route before I present mine..." Alfonso leaned forward to speak, but Timothy raised a hand in his face, silencing him and causing annoyance to flash across Alfonso’s features. "Okay, Doctor Athena. Request granted." A thin smile appeared on Elder Timothy’s lips, causing Ewan’s furrows to deepen. Did Athena somehow persuade Elder Timothy to tilt the scales in her favor? He wondered, aware of the whispers swirling around him. This was unprecedented for Elder Timothy; he typically had a firm grip on proceedings, rarely entertaining suggestions from others. Was it Old Mr. Thorne’s influence at play? But the truth was that Elder Timothy was simply intrigued; he wanted to see how this woman, who had been broken six years ago, who was now a rich doctor, would present her case. The thought fueled his curiosity enough that he was willing to speed the proceedings along. "Get the seats," he ordered, and two men standing by the door hastily exited. Five minutes later, two long, bench-like chairs with polished headboards were brought into the room, each carried by two men. They placed one in front of Athena and the other before Ewan. "Okay then, fill in the seats." Without a moment’s hesitation, Athena stood, accepting the laptop bag Antonio handed to her before gracefully walking to her new place. She tasked Aiden with connecting the projector, ensuring everything was ready. Ewan followed suit, adjusting his tie as he rose. "Now that we’ve settled that, let the plaintiff state their case." Ewan stood tall, clad in a sharp three-piece suit that highlighted his determined aura. In front of him lay a large brown envelope brimming with photocopied research documents sent by a hacker. After greeting the elders and the gathered crowd, he cleared his throat, beginning, "As Elder Timothy stated, the case revolves around child legal matters." He paused, inhaling softly, gathering his thoughts. Yes, Athena had helped him stay focused today, but this effort was ultimately for her benefit. She intended to fight fair and square, and that’s exactly what he would do—fight with all he had for the sake of his children. "You all remember my ex-wife from six years ago, embroiled in a scandal involving infidelity. Over a month ago, I held a press conference apologizing for my inability to provide proof about that tumultuous period. While I worked through those issues and attempted to mend bridges though, she never informed me that she had our children all along. Before she left our city, she was already pregnant; she knew and chose not to tell me. It wasn’t until a few weeks ago that I discovered the truth—that her twins, who harbor nothing but animosity toward me, are actually mine." His voice crackled slightly as he opened the file, aware of the murmurs rising within the crowd. Some believed Athena was justified in separating from him while others considered her foolish for keeping the twins away. He sided with the latter. He produced a copy of the DNA test results for Elder Timothy, alongside pictures of Kathleen and Nathaniel. As Elder Timothy held up the evidence for the assembly to see, the twins scowled, fists clenched in silent outrage. "Oh, they are your children, quite alright, Ewan. Continue..." "Thank you. You see, in my mind, the expected course of action would have been to confront her directly about this. I would have, but I stumbled upon disturbing reports linking her to activities that have endangered others, including using our children to curry favors and wreak havoc on businesses." "Oh Lord, have mercy..." Gianna muttered, her eyebrows raised in disbelief. Beside her, Aiden smiled slyly, shaking his head. Ewan was only digging himself into a deeper mess. "As you can see..." Ewan continued, gesturing towards the files handed out to the elders. "She uses the children as a cover for her backers—whoever they may be—after they pay cyber criminals to hack into companies’ systems. My own company, for instance, fell victim to two separate hacks; you all remember that chaotic season. She was behind it. She even claimed to know the person responsible and said she’d speak with them to put a stop to it... but that’s beside the point. During my conversations with the hackers, I heard my daughter’s voice! I don’t know what she is doing with my kids, Elder Timothy. What is the six year old doing with the hackers contact?" Ewan threw up his hands in frustration, the tension palpable. "If you check the second file, you will see that she is also linked with gangs, including the Russian mafia. The articles also indicate that she is the mastermind behind the Grey disease." Gasps erupted throughout the hall as disbelief mixed with intrigue painted the faces of the crowd. "She did it, then created an antidote for it. This is how she amassed her wealth, by solving a crisis she herself had instigated." Alfonso’s mouth fell open in shock. He hadn’t seen this coming at all. Wow, the woman was far more cunning than they had initially perceived.

Chapter 138: The Court Case

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