Isabella~
"What did he just say?" I stared incredulously at Xavier's face, my breath catching in my chest.
"Bella, please calm down; the court session is about to begin." Victor kept me from falling by holding me in his arms, his grip firm yet gentle.
Seeing no remorse on Xavier's face, my eyes welled up with tears.
Is this how he hurts me now? I never thought he would go to such lengths to force me to withdraw from Lincoln's case. How could he defend murderers in court? The news hit me like a bomb, shattering every ounce of resolve I had left.
"Take me to my hotel, Victor." My voice trembled as I struggled to keep my emotions in check.
"They wanted to see you broken, Bella, which is why Xavier decided to stand up for Jonathan. You must keep your vulnerability hidden from them," Victor said, his tone laced with disappointment as he glanced at Xavier.
I noticed the shadow of pain in Victor's eyes—pain for me, for what I was enduring, and for the betrayal that hung heavy in the air.
"What are you doing there, Xavier? Join me," Dad's commanding voice broke the moment. Before I could question Xavier about his decision, Dad called him into the courtroom.
Xavier's betrayal felt like a sword in my chest. We were supposed to fight this case together as a team, not against each other. My heart ached as I watched him walk away without a second glance in my direction. I tried to focus on Lincon's case, but the weight of Laila's case bore down on me like an anvil, especially with Xavier standing on the opposing side.
"My lord, in these photographs Lincon and Dixie are not present, so these photographs do not prove that Lincon was not aware of his friends present on the cruise," Dad argued, his voice measured as the judge resumed her seat.
"Additionally, Lincon's social media account was deactivated at that time. This is the evidence."
He displayed the notifications from December 23rd and Lincon's deactivated Facebook account on the projector.
"Prosecution, do you want to say anything?" The judge turned her gaze to me, her sharp eyes narrowing.
I wanted to counter his statement to dismantle his argument with precision, but my mind was a chaotic swirl of emotions. Xavier's betrayal loomed too large, casting a shadow over my ability to focus.
"No, my lord." My voice was barely above a whisper as I gave a head nod, my confidence wavering.
"Miss Luis, do you have additional proof and evidence to support your client's claims in court?" The judge's gaze bore into me, her tone holding an edge of warning.
"My lord, I need time to present the evidence. Please provide the next hearing date," I requested, my hands clutching the edges of the table to steady myself.
"Objection, my lord!" Dad's voice rang out, laced with anger.
"Miss Luis is again wasting court time by demanding the next hearing date. This case is completely baseless, and Dixie and Lincoln can sort out this family matter at their house."
Hearing him, I let out a defeated sigh. What will he do when he learns the truth? His eyes, which had always been full of pride and affection for me, were now filled with rage. What could be more devastating than this? The two most important men in my life—Dad and Xavier—were concurrently opposing me, supporting the guilty party to satisfy their egos.
"We have adjourned the court until the 20th of next month. Miss Luis, if you fail to come prepared to court the next time, you will lose this case," the judge said, her warning filled with finality before she rose from her chair.
"Let's go, Xavier." Dad clenched his fist angrily, throwing a disapproving glance my way as he left the courtroom.
I sat defeated in my seat as the courtroom emptied around me.
What's happening with me? Even if I win, I will feel defeated. On one side, I am fighting against my mentor to get justice for Dixie; on the other, I am opposing Xavier—the man I love—to seek justice for Laila.
Although my emotions screamed at me to back off, it was too late for me to do so now. As I buried my face in my hands, I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder.
"Bella, you are not alone; I am with you." James's soft voice reached me, his presence behind me a quiet reassurance.
"I'm with you, too," Victor said, giving a resolute nod.
"However, Dad?" I looked at Victor, my voice trembling with confusion.
"No relationship is more important than justice, and after witnessing your bravery, I no longer feel afraid to confront my father," Victor said, his words carrying a conviction that felt like a lifeline.
"Bella, you shouldn't be alarmed by his latest threat. It's their tried-and-true tactic to emotionally damage people to achieve their goals," Dixie whispered gently, her hand enclosing mine with warmth.
"How am I going to do this?" I choked out, tears spilling over as I felt the comfort of Dixie's embrace.
"I never imagined that my good intentions would come at such a heavy cost. I always tried to mend the Thompson family's broken hearts, but I never realized that doing so would brutally break me."
"Bella, you are very courageous, and seeing your bravery, I am fully confident that you will win this case," Aunt Lily said as she walked into the courtroom with Uncle Jorawar by her side.
"What are you doing here, Uncle?" I asked, perplexed by their sudden appearance.
"We came to meet you because we saw the latest news on television," Aunt Lily said, patting my shoulder in a comforting gesture.
"Don't worry, Aunt. Regardless of who stands up for Jonathan, I won't back down," I said, my voice resolute.
Their presence gave me fresh inspiration and a renewed sense of purpose. The thought of Xavier facing me in court shattered my heart, but their faith in me strengthened my resolve to seek justice.
When I left the courtroom, Xavier was waiting for me beside my car.
"Bella, don't you want to question me?" he asked, his voice low but steady.
I turned my back on him and began walking toward my car, but his voice stopped me.
"Is there anything left to ask you?" I smiled bitterly as I turned to face him.
"You misunderstand me, Bella, and you have left me with no other option. I never wanted to defend him in this case, and I swear to you that if you remove your name from Lincon's case, I will remove my name from Laila's as well," Xavier said, his blue eyes pleading with me.
I gazed intently into his eyes, searching for a trace of the man I once loved so deeply.
"Are you the same person I once loved so much, Xavier Thompson?" After hearing his statement, I felt as though I no longer knew him.
"Bella, Laila's first court hearing date is announced," James said as he approached the parking area.
"Hmm, that's interesting. When is that lucky date?" I asked, struggling to hide my pain from Xavier.
I didn't want him to see me in my most vulnerable state.
"It's on the 20th of next month." James hesitated as he glanced at Xavier.
"That's fascinating, junior Mr. Thompson. I'll see you in the courtroom." Xavier had gone to great lengths to shatter my spirit, and by scheduling the hearings for both cases on the same day, he had once again called into question my resolve to bring about justice. However, I am prepared to overcome any obstacle to accomplish my mission, regardless of the cost.
I got into my car and left the court premises.