Chapter 109: Cheers to Comeuppance

Third Person

The weekend had come and gone, and the case between Annika and Jeffrey was back to being underway. Jeffrey still had no idea the bombs that were about to be dropped that day. Annika and her family wanted Hunter to torture Jeffrey in court, by legal standards, of course. However, that didn’t mean Royce didn’t have any fun over the weekend, which got him in a bit of trouble with his parents. Though, not very much trouble, after they had found out what it was he had done.

Royce, the overprotective big brother and massive antagonist he was well known for, had sent Jeffrey proof of his father’s serial infidelity with Piper. He sent the file anonymously. When Jeffrey received the package with evidence of his father’s sexual exploitation, Jeffrey had a damn near aneurism in lockup. He was already going mad with anger and jealousy over Annika and Leon’s blossoming relationship and the fact that she was now expecting Leon’s child. But to see that instead of doing everything he could to protect his son from even more embarrassment, his father had to go and have an affair with his distant cousin, no less.

Jeffrey was horrified to learn of the kinks his father was into. He didn’t have time even to contemplate who had sent him the photos, much less stomach the fact that his father was practically committing incest with Piper, unbeknownst to Jeffrey, that Piper was his actual mother, which Hunter planned on revealing during court later on in the day.

As Jeffrey was escorted into the courtroom, his eyes immediately fixated on Annika, her family, and their arsenal of attorneys that took up the entire front row of their side of the courtroom. Hunter was busy reviewing paperwork and evidence to be used during the court session; the family lawyers were helping him organize everything neatly while Annika stood by her chair at the plaintiff’s table, Leon by her side with his arm around her waist. Jeffrey’s face burned bright red with jealousy and anger. But what was even more upsetting was when he saw his family sitting on his side of the courtroom. His father was seated between his mother and Piper. After seeing what his father and Piper were up to, he held nothing but revulsion for them.

“Ladies and gentlemen, court is now in session. Please take your seats!” The bailiff called out. After everyone found their seats, he then announced Judge Trainor’s entry. “All rise for the honorable Judge Trainor.” Everyone rose to their feet.

“Thank you. You may be seated.” Everyone took their seats. “Before we begin, I will remind everyone here today that this is a televised and highly publicized court hearing. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, bear in mind that this is a divorce hearing. Not a criminal case. That is why there are only six of you. As you can also see, your foreman has been replaced since you last were here.” Everyone in the courtroom snapped their heads to the jury, not even realizing the foreman had been replaced since they were last in court.

“What happened?” Annika asked Hunter in a whisper.

“I don’t know. I wasn’t even made aware of this,” he replied.

“Though I cannot specify who is behind it, please let me be frank about one thing,” Judge Trainor paused a moment as he eyed everyone in the courtroom, but his gaze landed on the Hollands family a second longer than anyone else’s. Piper seeing that he was staring straight at them, started to squirm a little. “Bribing a juror is a serious offense and will not be tolerated.” There were gasps of horror and disbelief all around.

Leon immediately turned to Toby and whispered something in his ear. Toby nodded his head in understanding and stealthily left the courtroom. Everyone’s undivided attention was on Judge Trainor and trying to figure out who had bribed a juror that they didn’t notice Toby leave.

“Let’s get this day started, shall we?” Judge Trainor stated that the court was underway. As in their original court hearing, Jeff represented himself, as Hunter represented Annika. “Counselor Hollands, you have the floor.”

“Thank you, Your Honor.” Jeffrey stood and took a quick glance at Annika. Everyone figured she would be his first victim; however, that wasn’t the case. Jeffrey called Leon to the stand. Annika snapped her head up in surprise. Leon, however, was poised and collected. He stood, buttoned his tailored Armani suit jacket, and went to the stand. The three women on the jury couldn’t help but swoon at him. Leon’s aura when he walked screamed wealth and power, and it also helped that he was tall, dark, and extremely handsome. Annika felt herself becoming possessive of Leon when she saw how he attracted women like moths to a flame.

“Place your right hand, sir. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you, God?”

“I do.”

“You may be seated.”

“Thank you for being here today, Mr. Von Doren. Though I have to admit, I’m surprised you’re here.”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, forgive me, Mr. Von Doren. I’m just surprised you’re here because I thought you ran a multibillion-dollar company. Is that not right?”

“Objection! Badgering! And relevance!” Hunter exclaimed.

“Sustained. Counselor Hollands, watch yourself,” Judge Trainor warned with gritted teeth.

“No, it’s all right,” Leon stated with confidence. “You want to ask how someone like me, who runs a company as massive as mine, has time to come to a highly publicized divorce hearing, are you not?”

“Your words, not mine,” Jeffrey answered with a dismissive shrug.

“I want to wring his neck!” McKenna muttered under her breath.

“Well, I have the time because I make the time. Unlike you, Hollands, I’m my own boss. I don’t have to answer to anyone else, not even my board members, because, well, I can easily have them replaced. Unlike you. A man who was caught with his hands in the cookie jar and then got canned for it.” Leon hit a sore spot with his words, and the courtroom started to snicker—even the jury. No one really took Jeffrey seriously after his evidence fabrication and tampering crimes came to light. “Do you need a reminder Hollands, that you’re the one on trial here, not me?”

“Mr. Von Doren, I’m the one questioning—”

“Then give me a damn question and quit wasting everyone’s time.” Having been abruptly cut off by Leon, Jeffrey became slightly flustered. He had initially called Leon to embarrass Leon, but alas, Jeffrey became a victim of his own plot.

“Fine. Since you want to cut right to the chase. Very well. Mr. Von Doren, what is your relationship with Annika Silverton?”

“She’s my fiancée.” Jeffrey froze a moment. He knew the answer. But hearing it from the horse’s mouth made him stagger.