Chapter 104 Press charges
CHAPTER 104
Press charges.
Few days later
The courtroom was packed. Journalists crowded outside the building despite heavy security..Everyone wanted to witness the scandal involving powerful families.
Inside the courtroom, tension sat heavily in the air.
Across the courtroom, Clara sat beside her lawyer looking pale and exhausted. The confident woman she once was had disappeared completely. For the first time in years, fear showed clearly in her eyes.
Beside her sat Trent. Unlike Clara, Trent still tried maintaining composure, but the tightness in his jaw betrayed him. When his gaze met Leo’s, hatred burned instantly between them.
Blake sat behind Leo with Alex beside him.
Alex leaned closer slightly. “The media is going crazy outside.”
Blake smirked. “They should.”
Moments later, the judge entered the courtroom. Everyone stood immediately.
After the formalities, the courtroom settled again. The judge adjusted his glasses before speaking firmly.
“Case number 247. The State versus Clara Benson and Trent Carter.”
The room became completely silent. The judge continued.
“The defendants are charged with conspiracy, attempted murder against Ruby Anderson, illegal firearm arrangement, and obstruction of justice.”
Murmurs spread across the courtroom immediately.
Leo stared hard.
Clara’s lawyer stood first. “My client denies all accusations.”
Trent’s lawyer immediately followed. “There is insufficient evidence connecting Mr. Carter directly to the attack.”
Blake rolled his eyes quietly.
Alex whispered, “That won’t last long.”
Then the prosecution began presenting evidence one after another. Phone records,
bank transfers, witness statements and security footage. Every single thing pointed toward Clara and Trent.
The atmosphere shifted quickly. Clara’s hands trembled visibly as the evidence continued stacking against her. Trent remained silent, but anger slowly consumed his expression.
Then came the biggest moment. The prosecution called Luke to testify. The young men Clara and Trent worked with and on Leo staff.
The courtroom instantly became alert.
Luke stood carefully before walking toward the witness stand.
After taking the oath, the prosecutor stepped forward.
“Mr. Luke, can you describe what happened?”
“The first week Clara came back from the country, she met with me and introduced me to Trent Carter, they made me a spy at my bosses house, I sent information about his whereabouts and that of his girlfriend to them, the information regarding that of Leo's Carter mom—” Luke was cut shut.
Clara looked completely shaken now. Her lawyer quickly stood. “Objection—”
“Overruled,” the judge said firmly.
Blake smirked from behind.
Then unexpectedly Trent suddenly stood up angrily. “This is ridiculous!”
The courtroom erupted instantly. His lawyer grabbed his arm quickly.
“Sit down!”
But Trent was already furious. “You’re all acting like I planned this!”
Leo stared at him coldly. “You did.”
Trent laughed bitterly. “You stole everything from me first!”
The courtroom exploded into whispers again.
The judge slammed the gavel loudly.
“Order!”
Trent breathed heavily before sitting back down, but the damage was already done.
Everyone had seen his reaction and everyone understood what it meant. Clara looked completely broken beside him.
For the first time since the trial started, tears slipped down her face silently, but nobody pitied her anymore, not after what happened to Ruby or after Leo almost died of shock.
The judge announced a temporary adjournment before standing up. “This court will continue tomorrow morning.”
The gavel slammed once again. Immediately reporters rushed outside while officers surrounded Clara and Trent.
Few days back
The atmosphere inside the private hospital room was quiet except for the steady beeping of the machines connected to Leo Carter. Morning sunlight slipped through the half-open blinds, casting pale streaks across his face. His fingers twitched slightly against the white sheets before his eyes slowly opened. For a few seconds, everything looked blurry. Then the sharp pain in his shoulder returned instantly.
Leo groaned softly.
Beside the bed, Blake, who had barely slept for days, straightened immediately when he noticed the movement.
“Leo?”
Leo blinked twice before focusing on him. His lips moved weakly. “Ruby…”
Blake exhaled heavily in relief before quickly pressing the emergency button beside the bed.
“He’s awake,” Blake muttered before turning back to him. “Relax. The doctor is coming.”
Leo ignored every other thing. “Ruby,” he repeated, his voice rougher this time. “Where is she?”
“She’s alive.”
The tension in Leo’s face loosened
instantly. Blake continued carefully, “She’s still under observation, but she’s fine.”
Leo closed his eyes briefly as if those words alone had given him life again.
A few seconds later, the doctor entered with two nurses behind him. They immediately began checking Leo’s vitals while asking him several questions.
“How are you feeling, Mr. Carter?”
“Like hell,” Leo answered dryly.
The doctor gave a small smile while checking the monitor. “That’s expected, the shock almost caused a stroke but thank God you were brought in quickly.”
Leo’s expression darkened immediately as the memories rushed back.
“How long was I out?”
“Almost three days,” the doctor replied.
Leo frowned deeply.
“Three days?”
“You needed rest. Your body went through severe trauma.”
Leo tried sitting up immediately. The sharp pain on his neck forced him back down.
“Easy,” the doctor warned. “You still need recovery.”
“I need to leave.”
Blake folded his arms beside the bed. “You just woke up.”
“I said I need to leave.”
The doctor hesitated before sighing.
“Technically, your condition has stabilized faster than expected. If you insist, we can discharge you later today under strict conditions.”
Leo nodded instantly. “Do it.”
The doctor exchanged a look with Blake before finishing the examination.
After they left, silence settled briefly inside the room.
Blake stared at him carefully. “You’re already thinking about revenge.”
Leo’s cold gaze shifted toward him. “They tried to kill Ruby.”
Blake’s expression became serious “you don't have to blame yourself for that, everything is under control right now.”
Leo looked away without speaking.
Blake shook his head slowly. “You really love her.”
Leo’s expression softened slightly.
“Yes, more than anything in my life.”
~
That same afternoon, Leo was discharged from the hospital despite multiple warnings from the doctor. The moment he stepped outside wearing a black hoodie covering his entire body, several guards surrounded him immediately.
Blake walked beside him. “You should still be resting.”
Leo ignored him completely. “Where’s Alex?”
“Waiting at the penthouse.”
Leo entered the black SUV without another word. The ride back was silent, but the dangerous look in Leo’s eyes said enough.
Someone was going to pay.
At the Carter penthouse, Alex stood near the large living room window holding a thick brown file. The moment Leo entered, Alex straightened immediately.
“Boss.”
Leo walked past him slowly before sitting on the couch carefully due to the pain in his neck.
Blake remained standing nearby. Alex placed the file on the table. “I dug into everything.”
Leo lifted his eyes toward him.
“Talk.”
Alex opened the file. “Three days before the incident, Clara withdrew a large amount of money from an offshore account connected to Trent.”
Blake frowned. “So Trent funded it.”
Alex nodded. “Yes.”
He pulled out several printed photographs and documents.
“We tracked calls between Clara and Trent over the last month. They were in constant communication.”
Leo’s face darkened with every second.
Alex continued. “The accused man confessed before disappearing.”
Blake’s eyes narrowed. “Disappearing?”
Alex sighed. “He was killed in custody last night.”
Silence filled the room instantly.
Leo leaned back slowly. “Of course.”
Alex nodded grimly. “But before he died, he admitted Clara hired him.”
Blake cursed under his breath. “That’s enough evidence already.”
“There’s more,” Alex added.
He slid another paper across the table.
“They were seen at a restaurant in town and they planned to eliminate Ruby, to bring you down.”
Leo’s jaw clenched tightly.
Blake stared at him carefully. “They truly intended to kill her.”
For several seconds, Leo said nothing, the room itself felt colder then finally, “Prepare the lawyers.”
Alex nodded immediately. “It’s already done.”
“Press charges.”
Blake smirked slightly, “and this time, no one hides it.”
Leo’s eyes turned dangerously cold. “I want them destroyed.”