Chapter 192
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 192
“Who is the one who has truly abandoned their humanity here...!”
Harriet tried to retort, but she was too late. John’s lawyer quickly called another relative to the stand. Three people came forward in succession, and all three spoke as if they had rehearsed a script, their testimonies identical.
They claimed the John Listerwell family hadn't killed Arthur and his wife. They insisted that Harriet had simply coveted her uncle’s title and orchestrated these events out of greed. They even threw in irrelevant personal attacks, claiming she had long been envious of Bella.
The judge did not interrupt them.
“All the witnesses' statements are merely their own conjectures! None of this serves as proof that the John Listerwell family is innocent!” Harriet’s lawyer shouted, refusing to back down.
He submitted the evidence Morris had obtained: a contract bearing John’s signature and a massive wad of cash.
“If he is truly innocent, then why on earth would he try to bribe Mr. Declan to sabotage the salvage operation?”
“That is because he believed Miss Harriet was doing something that would tarnish the family name,” John’s lawyer countered smoothly. “As the Head of the Family, he thought it better to quietly bury the matter, even if it meant spending a bit of money.”
“You call that a 'bit'? The sum he intended to hand over was a staggering million dirhams! Do you truly believe that is an amount one spends just to avoid a little family trouble?”
The arguments were fierce. Perhaps because of the intensity, the judge merely gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable. It was impossible to tell if he agreed with the lawyer’s words or if it was simply a habitual gesture.
“The next trial will proceed in two weeks, at 11 AM. This concludes today’s proceedings.”
With no further points of contention, the judge spoke in a weary voice and rose from his seat.
While it was difficult to predict the outcome based on the judge's demeanor alone, a juror connected to Trisha’s network brought back grim news.
“If Miss Harriet cannot secure more decisive evidence, the situation is likely to become quite difficult.”
For a moment, the world seemed to dim before Harriet’s eyes, but she managed a nod, feigning composure. Her lawyer had also been concerned about this possibility, his expression suggesting he had expected this uphill battle all along.
On her way out of the courtroom, Harriet spoke to Roxana, who was trying to comfort her.
“I more or less expected this. But now that I’ve given people a reason to doubt, my uncle will struggle significantly in the subsequent lawsuits I intend to file.”
She planned to sue John for everything: for burning her parents' belongings, for framing her for Bella’s actions, and for attempting to seize her land and mansion in Perilas.
If she kept up the pressure, they would eventually lose their footing, and Bella would have no chance of a comeback.
“It will be a long, drawn-out battle. Are you prepared for that?” Roxana asked.
“Even if the trials drag on, could they possibly be longer than the years I’ve spent suffering? If I don’t get my revenge this way, what point is there to the rest of my life?”
“Understood. The Fellon family will actively support you, Harriet.”
“Thank you, Aunt.”
Harriet offered a faint smile before they parted ways. She then went to meet Cedric to inform him of the day’s results.
Having resolved not to whine or show weakness, she spoke to Cedric in a playful tone when he greeted her.
“It seems things are proceeding exactly as I expected. After all, there’s no way to prove that Bella’s confession was meant for my ears only.”
Cedric’s smile slowly faded, but Harriet kept talking, acting as if she were discussing someone else’s problems.
“They’re saying I’m trying to pin someone else’s crimes on Bella and my uncle. Can you believe it?”
“If it were someone else’s doing, I would have accused them,” Cedric muttered darkly.
“But they’re claiming I’m coveting the viscounty and trying to frame my uncle. As if I care about such a trivial title.”
Cedric’s face grew stern. He pondered for a moment before asking, “I heard several collateral relatives of the Listerwell family testified today.”
“That probably swayed the jurors decisively. To them, it must look like the relatives are defending my uncle because they truly believe him innocent... even though it would be easier for them to have a naive child like me as the Family Head...”
The pent-up sense of injustice she had been suppressing finally boiled over. She clenched her teeth, trying to hold back the tears, but hot drops of indignation began to stream down her cheeks.
“All my relatives... they said there was no way my uncle could have killed my father.”
“Harriet...”
“The very people who doted on me so much when Father was alive are now calling me an unfilial child. They asked me how I could file a lawsuit that tarnishes the family name just because I want a title.”
She couldn't forget the sight of them—her own blood—glaring at her with furrowed brows. Harriet didn't even think to wipe her face, struggling to process the betrayal.
“I never thought they would do that. I thought they would at least remain neutral, even if they couldn't take my side. But how could they...!”
Cedric put his arm around Harriet’s trembling shoulders. Her fists were clenched tight. He led her slowly to the sofa and sat her down. Taking out a handkerchief, he gently wiped her cheeks and tidied her disheveled hair.
“They were likely coerced, directly or indirectly, into testifying. There isn't a single one among them who doesn't rely on the favor of the House of Listerwell.”
“Even so, they should have had some consideration for me. Isn't that what a conscience is for?”
“To maintain one's position, a conscience can be sold for the price of a pair of shoes. If you truly intend to reclaim the Listerwell viscounty, you must understand this from now on.”
Even her lover spoke of their betrayal as if it were only natural. Harriet felt a wave of confusion. Was she truly that naive? Or had the standards of morality she had been raised with simply ceased to exist?
In her shock, she failed to notice that Cedric’s gaze had grown dangerously sharp at the sight of her tears.
“But I have a question,” he said softly. “You are going to win this trial in the end, so why are you shedding these precious tears?”
“...You haven't forgotten what I said, have you? I don't have decisive evidence that my uncle or Bella is the culprit.”
At that, Cedric let out a soft chuckle.
“I think I’ve told you this before, but you are likely the person who underestimates me the most in the entire Astor Empire.”
“What is it now?”
“If I set my mind to it, I can turn even an innocent person into the most heinous criminal.”
Harriet pulled back slightly, giving him a suspicious look. Cedric added with a smirk, “Let alone exposing the deeds of an actual criminal.”
“Really...? But how...?”
“With money and power, it isn't a particularly difficult task. Besides, the Listerwell family didn't exactly commit a perfect crime.”
He shrugged as if it were nothing and pointed out a few crucial details.
“While investigating, I discovered an interesting fact. Among those who rented out rowboats at Albrecht Park’s dock at the time of the accident, not a single person reported a boat sinking. The insurance company never paid out a single claim. Nor did anyone on the excursion report losing their own private boat.”
“That means...!”
“Just by looking at the condition of the salvaged boat, one can see it was brand new at the time. Not even the paint had peeled. So, who gave a newly built wooden boat to Arthur Listerwell and his wife?”
Cedric’s gaze deepened.
“And who would lose such an expensive boat and not report it?”
Harriet already knew the answer. “My uncle... he had it made himself.”
“'Himself' isn't quite right. Drilling a hole in the bottom of a boat and covering it with temporary glue isn't a task a noble who’s never held a saw could do personally. There must have been someone commissioned to build it.”
At the mention that a witness who could provide decisive testimony existed, Harriet felt a surge of hope so bright it was as if a halo had appeared behind Cedric’s head.
But he wasn't finished.
“One more thing. Defective glue, by definition, is a faulty product. There wouldn't be many places where one could purchase such a thing in large quantities. Although it’s been over ten years, if such a specific, large order was placed, there is likely a merchant who remembers it.”
“If we could truly find those people...!”
Harriet took a deep breath, hope blooming in her chest, before she forced herself to calm down.
“It will be difficult to find them. So much time has passed. Still, if we search, we might uncover a clue.”
“Actually, about eighty percent of the work is already done.”
“What?”
“Did you think I was idling while you were losing sleep? I wanted to set the stage for this trial if possible, but a few complications arose.”
He spoke casually, his demeanor entirely unfitting for someone who had just accomplished such a monumental feat. While Harriet sat there dumbfounded, trying to process his words, Cedric calmly asked:
“I have good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?”