Chapter 110 - Cheers to Comeuppance
“When did you two become engaged?”
“Why is that of any relevance?” Leon questioned back.
“Please answer the question, Mr. Von Doren.”
“Last week. After I found out she was pregnant with our first child.” Jeffrey staggered again, and this time, women all over the country were heartbroken to hear that only was Leonardo Von Doren no longer available, but he was also expecting an heir. Though many people online and at home were congratulating them, a lot of people were cursing Annika for her immense good fortune.
“If that’s the case, are you telling the court you had relations with a married woman? My wife, to be precise?” Jeffrey asked, his voice laced with venom.
“No, I did not.”
“Mr. Von Doren, lying is a criminal—”
“I had relations with a woman who had been legally separated for several weeks from her husband, who had his own relations outside of their marriage.” Jeffrey became silent when Leon outed him as a cheater. Even though the entire country was already aware of this, Jeffrey had unintentionally shot himself in the foot. He had gotten way ahead of himself due to his ever-growing bitterness toward Leon. Jeffrey calmed himself once more before continuing.
“When did you first meet Ms. Silverton, Mr. Von Doren?”
“About five months ago.”
“Where?”
“Her practice.”
“And why were you there?”
“To get a physical exam.”
“Why are you lying, Mr. Von Doren?”
“I’m not.”
“You are. You have your own private physician. Why would you need to see my wife at her practice?”
“Who cares if I have my own private physician? I don’t have to use him to get a physical done. I can go to any physician I like. I had heard good things about Land and Mall. Ergo, I went.”
“Why Land and Mall, though? There are plenty of other physician’s offices in the city?”
“Objection! Asked and answered!”
“Sustained.”
“I withdraw the question.”
“This guy has some fucking nerve,” Royce grumbled. “He’s fishing!”
“He’s a lawyer. He’s supposed to fish,” McKenna said to him. “But Leon’s too smart to take the bait.”
“Mr. Von Doren, after meeting Dr. Silverton, or should I say, Dr. Hiller, how did you two become a couple.”
“We didn’t.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“We didn’t initially become a couple. She figured out who I was and came to me with a business proposition.”
“And may I ask what that business proposition was?”
“She was looking for another clinic location. She explained to me that she and her partner, Dr. Malloy, were going to open another clinic and hire more doctors and nursing practitioners. And before you even ask, she came to me because I’m the best in commercial real estate in this state.”
“Do you make it a habit of sleeping with your clients?”
“OBJECTION!”
“Withdrawn.”
“No need,” Leon said firmly, annoyed with Jeffrey and his underhanded tactics to try and tarnish his image.
“Unlike you, Hollands, I don’t sleep around with married women. You slept with my wife while she and I were still married. You used the same tactic you are now during my initial divorce hearing with her. But one time is one time too many. After my divorce from that God-forsaken woman, I slept around. I had several one-night stands. I was a billionaire playboy philanthropist. Women threw themselves at my feet. Of course, I slept around. But I’ve never crossed the forbidden line with sleeping with a married woman. Nor did I ever sell myself for business. Business came to me because I’m that good at what I do. If I weren’t, I wouldn’t be the billionaire I am today.” Once Leon was done, Jeffrey had no retort. Everything he planned on asking went out the window with Leon’s explanation. Not only did Leon put down Jeffrey as an incompetent fool, but he also made it so that none of his follow-up questions could be asked. Jeffrey was silent for so long that Judge Trainor had to call his name.
“Counselor Hollands!”
“Huh? Yes?”
“Do you have any additional questions for Mr. Von Doren?”
“Um, no, I don’t. No further questions at this time.”
“Counselor Malloy?”
“No cross-examination at this time, Your Honor,” Hunter answered.
“Very well. You may step down, Mr. Von Doren.” Leon stood up and made his way back to his seat. As he passed Annika, he gave her a wink of assurance, making her smile and blush.
“Counselor Hollands, your next witness.”
“I have no one else to call on at this time.”
“Counselor Malloy?”
“I call Piper Hollands to the stand.” There were murmurs in the gallery, wondering who Piper Hollands was. Piper was looking around with her eyes trying to figure out why she was being called to the stand.
“Objection!” Jeffrey shouted. “She has no relevance to this case!”
“I think we should let the court decide that, Hollands,” Hunter retorted.
“Piper Hollands, you’ve been summoned to the stand. Show yourself or be held in contempt!” Judge Trainor shouted. Piper slowly got up from her seat while gritting her teeth. When she got to the stand, she swore to be 100% truthful and sat down.
“Ms. Hollands,” Hunter got her attention as he walked toward her. “Can you explain your relationship with the Hollands family to the courts?”
“I’m a distant relative.”
“In what capacity?”
“A cousin twice removed.”
“A cousin, you say?” Piper nodded, not liking the vibe she got from Hunter’s questioning tone. She looked over at Jack, who was also sweating in trepidation. Hunter held his finger up and briskly walked back to the table. “I’d like to enter into evidence document A.” Hunter brought it to the Judge. Judge Trainor read it over, and his eyes widened at what they said. “Ms. Hollands, I’ll allow you to change your statement.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’ll give you a moment to revise your last statement. The one where you just told the court that you’re a distant cousin of the Hollands.”
“And why would I do that?”
“So, you won’t change your statement?”
“No,” Piper refused.
“Very well. Ladies and gentlemen of the court, please pay attention to the projector.” Everyone’s gazes simultaneously moved to the screen where Hunter projected the document he handed to the judge. The title of the paper was “Birth Certificate.” Piper’s face fell when she saw that it was Jeffrey’s when he was born. But that wasn’t what caught everyone else’s attention. It was the name of the birth mother. Piper Masters. Instead of Ruth Hollands.