Chapter 39
The courtroom was packed with reporters, lawyers, and curious onlookers. The air buzzed with anticipation as Rebecca was escorted in, her hands cuffed in front of her. She wore a simple black dress, her hair tied back in a tight bun, and her face was a mix of defiance and exhaustion. She scanned the room briefly, her sharp eyes landing on Damian, who sat near the front with his lawyer. Victoria was seated farther back, her heart pounding as the trial began.
The judge entered, and the room fell silent. After the formalities, the prosecutor stepped forward, laying out the charges against Rebecca.
“Rebecca Linton,” the prosecutor began, his voice firm. “You are charged with the murder of Roger Steele and the attempted framing of Zayden Huntington. How do you plead?”
Rebecca’s lips curled into a faint smirk. “Not guilty,” she said, her voice steady, even bold.
Victoria exchanged a glance with Tobias, who was seated beside her. “She doesn’t even look scared,” Victoria whispered.
Tobias leaned closer. “People like her don’t show fear. They thrive on chaos.”
The prosecutor wasted no time presenting the evidence—a timeline of Roger Steele’s disappearance, Rebecca’s connection to Zayden, and the discovery of Roger’s body in Zayden’s cellar. Victoria listened intently, her mind racing with the implications. How had Rebecca gotten access to Zayden’s house? And why Roger?
Finally, it was Rebecca’s turn to take the stand. The room tensed as she rose, her heels clicking against the polished wood floor. She raised her hand to swear the oath, her expression unwavering.
The prosecutor approached, his tone sharp. “Ms. Linton, you were apprehended after an extensive investigation revealed your involvement in the murder of Roger Steele. Do you deny planting his body in Mr. Huntington’s cellar?”
“I don’t deny it,” Rebecca said calmly, her words sending a ripple through the room.
Gasps erupted from the audience, and Victoria’s heart raced. She glanced at Damian, whose face remained stoic, though she noticed the slight clenching of his jaw.
The prosecutor raised an eyebrow. “So you admit to framing Mr. Huntington?”
Rebecca’s smirk widened. “I admit to planting the body. But framing Zayden wasn’t my idea.”
The courtroom buzzed with murmurs, and the judge banged his gavel. “Order! There will be order in this court.”
The prosecutor leaned forward, his voice sharp. “If it wasn’t your idea, Ms. Linton, then whose was it?”
Rebecca hesitated, her eyes flicking toward Damian. For a moment, the tension was palpable, and then she spoke, her voice laced with venom. “Damian Blackwood.”
A collective gasp filled the courtroom. Victoria’s stomach dropped as she turned to look at Damian, who sat frozen in his seat. His lawyer leaned in to whisper something, but Damian didn’t respond.
The prosecutor straightened, his voice firm. “Ms. Linton, are you suggesting that Mr. Blackwood instructed you to plant the body?”
Rebecca chuckled darkly. “I’m not suggesting it. I’m stating it as fact.”
“Why would Mr. Blackwood want to frame Mr. Huntington?” the prosecutor pressed.
Rebecca’s smirk faltered, and for the first time, she looked hesitant. “Because I was his leverage. And Zayden… Zayden was in the way.”
“Leverage?” The prosecutor’s tone sharpened. “Explain.”
Rebecca took a deep breath, her composure cracking just slightly. “Damian and I… we’ve been involved for years. I was his… concubine, for lack of a better term.”
The room exploded into chaos. Reporters scrambled to jot down notes, gasps and murmurs echoed from every corner, and Victoria felt like the ground had been ripped out from under her. Tobias grabbed her arm, steadying her as the judge slammed his gavel repeatedly.
“Order! I will have order in this courtroom!” the judge bellowed.
Victoria stared at Damian, whose face had gone pale. His lawyer whispered furiously to him, but he didn’t move. Selena, seated a few rows behind him, looked like she was ready to combust, her face a mask of fury.
The prosecutor pounced on the revelation. “You’re telling this court that you were romantically involved with Mr. Blackwood?”
Rebecca let out a bitter laugh. “If you can call it romantic. I was his plaything, his dirty little secret. And when things got messy, he used me to clean them up.”
“Messy?” the prosecutor echoed. “What do you mean by that?”
Rebecca’s expression darkened. “Roger Steele knew too much. He had evidence of Damian’s embezzlement, proof that he and Selena were funneling company funds into private accounts. Roger threatened to expose them.”
Victoria’s hands clenched into fists as she listened, fury bubbling beneath the surface. Damian and Selena had been playing dirty all along, and now it was all coming to light.
“And what about Zayden Huntington?” the prosecutor asked. “Why frame him?”
“Because he was a threat to Damian’s control over Victoria,” Rebecca said simply, her gaze flicking to Victoria. “Damian couldn’t stand the idea of her moving on with someone else. Especially someone like Zayden.”
Victoria felt the weight of Rebecca’s words hit her like a freight train. Damian’s obsession, his manipulations, his threats—it all made sense now. He hadn’t just wanted control over the company; he wanted control over her.
The prosecutor paused, letting the weight of Rebecca’s testimony settle over the room. “Ms. Linton, are you aware of the consequences of your actions?”
Rebecca’s smirk returned, though it was weaker now. “I’ve been aware for a long time. Damian made sure of that.”
Victoria glanced at Tobias, who whispered, “This changes everything.”
