Xavier~
"My lord, I would like to summon John Woods to the witness box." I fixed my coat and asked the judge for permission to allow me to interrogate John Woods.
"Permission granted." The judge gestured to me to call John and looked at me with a hope-filled expression.
"John Woods, how long have you known Victor Thompson?" I questioned him as soon as he stood in the witness box.
"For the last three years." He hesitatingly replied after seeing Victor.
Victor's eyes brimmed with pain and embarrassment as he scrutinized John's face. John's deceit profoundly wounded him. He conceals a wide range of emotions behind his composed exterior. Because I have personally experienced deceit, pain, remorse, fear, and embarrassment, I can truly relate to Victor's plight.
"Were you already married or in a relationship when you met Victor?" I kept my composure to conceal my anxiety, but beneath it all was the pressure to win this case and establish my worth.
"Yes, I was married at that time." John gave a slow nod.
"How was your relationship with your wife?" I questioned him further.
"We were happily married." John bowed his head, not wanting to look into my eyes.
"Why didn't you consider having a baby?" I concentrated on his personal life to uncover the truth he was hiding behind these unfounded accusations.
"Objection, my lord! Xavier is unnecessarily raising questions about my client's personal life when this case is only related to Victor Thompson." Uncle Jorawar rose irritably from his chair.
Uncle Jorawar didn't want me to delve further into John's personal life, as this was the only method I could use to establish Victor's innocence.
"Objection overruled." The judge gestured to me to continue my interrogation with John.
"Thank you, my lord." I bowed my head in front of the judge and turned again to question John. Uncle Jorawar slouched back in his chair, clenching his fist in anger.
"Mr. Woods, answer me." I raised my brow at him.
"We didn't want kids because my wife doesn't like kids." When John heard my incisive questions, his forehead started to perspire, and his tongue faltered.
"Don't you like kids?" I asked him again.
"No, I don't like kids." He gave a headshake.
"Then why did you last year adopt a girl from an orphanage?" Hearing my statement, he looked at me with shock.
"My lord, Last year, Mr. Woods adopted a girl from the orphanage and secretly placed her in the home Victor had gifted him on his last birthday. When John's family members discovered this information, they visited his house and engaged in a heated argument. His father shoved him that day, causing him to unintentionally bump into the flowerpot. My client, Victor, reached there on time and took John Woods to the hospital. Here are the medical reports."
I presented medical reports in court. Uncle Jorawar appeared anxious as he saw the case slip from his hands. John's perspiration is so heavy that he has to wipe his forehead constantly.
"My colleague is making an effort to divert the attention of the court, my lord. The evidence he presented in court did not establish Victor's innocence. Victor Thompson harassed numerous men, exploiting their desire to work with him. I have many victims who fall prey to his shady tactics." Uncle Jorawar sprang from his seat and launched a counteroffensive.
He produced numerous fake witnesses who claimed Victor had harassed them. As soon as I realized the case was going the other way, my confidence instantly crumbled. Uncle Jorawar's reasoning seems to have outweighed my appeals and statements. I don't want to lose this case at all costs because there are so many lives at stake, but after viewing Uncle Jorawar's statement, I no longer have any prospect of winning.
"Do you have anything else to bring before the court, Xavier?" The judge looked at me before presenting his verdict. I stood like a failure in the courtroom, looking at Victor with apologetic glances.
Dad was right; I am a loser. I felt a twinge of sadness as I saw Dad's distrustful face flash before my eyes.
If I brought John's wife to the courtroom, I would undoubtedly win this case, but despite my best attempts, she refused to testify as a critical witness. Why did I decide to defend Victor in this case when I already knew that I was incapable of protecting my family?
I do not doubt that Bella or another attorney might have done a better job of defending Victor than I did.
"My lord, there's still one witness." My father's commanding voice reverberated throughout the courtroom as the door opened.
"Dad?" I looked at my dad's face with surprise.
"Richard Thompson." The judge was also taken aback to see my dad present in the courtroom.
"Sorry for interrupting the court session. My lord, this woman came in front of my car when I was coming here. She asked me to drop her off in court, so I brought her here with me."
"Is this woman your key witness, Xavier?" After glancing at my face, Dad motioned for me to question John's wife.
Hearing my name from my dad's mouth after a long time, my body filled with extreme confidence. After all these years, I sensed the pride that had faded from his voice. I felt like I had already won the trophy by regaining my dad's trust, even if the court verdict was still pending.
Even though my eyes were welling with joyful tears, I kept my composure and continued the court hearing.
"Why, after five years of marriage, haven't you had children yet, Mrs. Woods?" She stood in the witness box, and I boldly asked her questions.
"I never had a romantic relationship with John. He exclusively liked men from his early years, even though his parents forced him to marry me. Before he left town, I endured all his torments and silently shared a single roof with him for two years. He met Victor Thompson and trapped him in his fake love. He followed Victor Thompson because he always aspired to be as wealthy and well-known as he was. The fact that Victor Thompson is gay was unexpected, which is why John had little trouble ensnaring him in his trap. John divorced me and released me from this terrible marriage to gain Victor's trust." She took a moment to wipe away her tears.
"Why didn't you inform the court of this earlier?" the judge asked her.
"John threatened me that if I visited the court and told the truth, then he would kill me. For this reason, I declined Xavier's request to appear in court. However, when his father visited me, he made it clear to me that my silence could potentially ruin the life of an innocent individual. Victor Thompson is innocent, my lord; he never asked John to divorce me. He met me in person and assured me that he would assist me in settling my career and leaving this suffocating marriage." Her cries reverberated across the courtroom.
The judge looked at Uncle Jorawar before giving his verdict. Uncle Jorawar bowed his face defeatfully.
"Many thanks, Mrs. Woods." I motioned for her to exit the witness box.
"The court reviewed all the evidence and witnesses and declared Victor Thompson not guilty." The judge's verdict felt like a blessing to my ears.
Now, no one can separate me from Bella. I sighed in relief after hearing the verdict.
I was going to call Bella to tell her about my success when my phone buzzed with a notification. Upon seeing the photograph, my joy quickly turned to rage.