Chapter 112 - Cheers to Comeuppance

“Order in my courtroom!” Judge Trainor demanded again. Once everything quieted down, Judge Trainor turned to Piper and shook his head. “Piper Masters, I’m holding you in contempt, perjury, and the illegal bribery of a juror. You here are remanded into custody. Bailiff, take her away.” The bailiff immediately put Piper into handcuffs and then dragged her away. “Since there is no need for cross-examination, Counselor Malloy, call your next witness.”

“I call Jeffrey Hollands to the stand.” Jeffrey gritted his teeth and dragged himself to the bench. After he swore his oath to be truthful, Hunter immediately questioned him about his affair with Sadie again. “Mr. Hollands, everyone in this courtroom already knows about your extramarital affair with Ms. Galloway; however, can you please tell us how far your relationship with her went?”

“What do you mean? She was my girlfriend. We had sexual relations.”

“You’re not even going to deny it?”

“There’s no point. Everyone already knows as you said.”

“True. But do they know that she wasn’t just your girlfriend?”

“What?”

“Ms. Galloway. She wasn’t just a girlfriend.”

“What else would she be?”

“Your second wife.”

“WHAT!?” Jeffrey screamed in shock. The courtroom was again in shambles. Before the judge could even call the court order, Hunter put the evidence onto the projector. The marriage certificate from New Jersey was projected onto the screen. Jeffrey turned around and furrowed his brows in confusion. Why was his signature on a marriage certificate to Sadie Galloway, of all people?

“Mr. Hollands, it appears that you’ve committed bigamy, which, as you know, is a federal crime.”

“No. I didn’t … I never …” Jeffrey was so exasperated by what he saw that he couldn’t even deny it. “When did I …”

“Perhaps this is something you can take this up with Sadie Galloway. Your Honor, in light of this overwhelming evidence, I request that Jeffrey Hollands be remanded into custody pending additional charges for bigamy.”

“Granted. Bailiff, take Counselor Hollands away where he will be charged for bigamy and his fraud charges against the state.”

“Your honor!” the new jury foreman stood.

“Yes, Mr. Foreman.”

“Given the new development in the case, this jury has already decided on the divorce settlement between Mr. Hollands and Ms. Silverton.”

“What say you, Mr. Foreman?”

“We, the jury, have voted in favor of Ms. Silverton. Mr. Hollands will gain nothing from their divorce. Ms. Silverton will remain the owner of all properties and finances.”

“As it should be. I will grant an immediate divorce between the two parties. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, thank you for your time. Court is now adjourned,” Judge Trainor declared while he slammed his gavel and retreated to his chambers.

Once Judge Trainor left the room, Annika and her family celebrated her victory against Jeffrey.

“Oh my god! It’s finally over!” Annika let out a sigh of relief. “I’m finally free!”

“Don’t celebrate too soon, Anni. We still have the case against Sadie for trying to have you killed,” Hunter reminded her.

“No, we don’t,” Matthaeus said.

“Huh?”

“We don’t?” Annika asked.

“Nope. The family lawyers and I were able to locate the thugs who were supposed to get you, and their boss agreed to a settlement in exchange for leniency. He paid back, with interest, I might add, what Sadie had paid them to kill you. Plus, with Sadie’s attorney in the wind, we don’t really need the extra case to put her away. She’s already going to be put away for a long time with Leon’s case against her.”

“Oh, well, I guess that’s not too bad,” Annika stated.

“And now we can finally get married,” Leon said to her and brought her into a passionate kiss suddenly.

“Not so fast!” McKenna exclaimed and pried them apart. They looked at her in shock. “We’re doing this right. Planning, dress dropping, caterers, DJ, venue, bachelorette party, the works!”

“Micky, we can still get married through the court first,” Leon said, smiling.

“No! Bachelorette party first!” Leon rolled his eyes.

“Objection!”

“Overruled! Come on, Mama; we need to start making phone calls,” Micky cheerfully said while locking arms with Madalena.

“Wha –”

“You’ll never win an argument against her, Leon,” Huxley said while placing a hand on Leon’s shoulder.

“Why not?”

“Because she’ll never let you.” Annika chuckled while Leon rolled his eyes.

“You sure you still want to join my crazy family?” She asked him as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

“More than anything.”