Every rustling of paper or whispered talk echoed across the great hall, creating a tense mood in the courtroom. Sitting at the defendant's table, Dorian's normally calm expression was tinged with annoyance. Lila sat next to him, a silent but poisonous presence, while Vincent Ashford, his main adversary, sat across the aisle with smug assurance.
Ana was sitting close to the rear, trying to calm herself as her heart was racing. Even being pulled into a public spectacle was not what she had desired. However, Lila's evidence had become crucial due to her falsehoods and Vincent's false charges.
The court proceedings started when the judge called the chamber to order. A guy with sharp features and an even sharper tongue, Vincent's lawyer, got up first and began to make accusations.
With a deliberate tone of contempt and righteousness, he said, "Your Honor," "we are here today to expose the corrupt practices of Dorian Blackwood, a man who has used his riches and power to conceal his misdeeds for years. Fraud, embezzlement, and now custody disputes to protect his reputation.
Evelyn Crane, Dorian's lawyer, stood forward. She was a calm, collected woman. "Your Honor, objection. The opposing attorney is leveling unfounded charges without supporting documentation.
The judge gave a curt nod. "Maintained. Do not stray from the facts, counselor.
However, the harm was already done. Ana could feel her palms getting wet as the whispers in the gallery became more intense. She looked at Dorian, who looked at her for a moment. There was a glimmer of vulnerability in his eyes, a whispered cry for her to believe in him and trust him.
Ana's stomach turned to knots when it was time for her to testify. Feeling the pressure of all the eyes in the room, she took a step forward. Evelyn walked calmly toward her, her voice firm.
Could you kindly explain your relationship with Mr. Blackwood, Mrs. Ravenscroft?
Ana swallowed hard and nodded. "He is... he is my children's father."
"And since learning about them, how would you characterize his involvement in their lives?" Evelyn inquired.
Ana paused, glancing briefly at Dorian before turning back to Evelyn. In the end, she remarked, "He's... he's been trying." "He has tried to get to know them."
Vincent's attorney got up right away. "Your Honor, objection. Mrs. Ravenscroft's testimony is unsupported by facts and is subjective.
The magistrate gave a nod. "Maintained. Go ahead, Ms. Crane.
Evelyn gave a nod and went on. "Mrs. Ravenscroft, did you know that Mr. Blackwood was accused of fraud?"
"No," Ana firmly stated. "I don't think they are real. Despite his shortcomings, Dorian is not dishonest.
Evelyn gave her a little nod, indicating that she was done probing. However, Vincent's lawyer stood up as Ana stepped aside, and his sneer made her skin crawl.
He started by asking, "Mrs. Ravenscroft, would you consider yourself loyal to Mr. Blackwood?"
Ana tensed up. "I'm not here to pick sides; I'm here for my kids."
The lawyer paced and remarked, "Interesting." Because in this instance, loyalty appears to be a recurrent motif. When you were missing for five years without informing Mr. Blackwood about his children, did you remain faithful to him?
Ana's face flushed with embarrassment as the courtroom erupted in whispers.
"Rebuttal!" Evelyn's voice was forceful as she yelled.
The lawyer answered, "Withdrawn," with a sly smile that persisted. "Mrs. Ravenscroft, may I ask you a question? Before you left, did you ever doubt Mr. Blackwood's commitment to you?"
Ana's voice was hardly audible above a whisper as she paused. "Yes."
"What's the reason for that?"
Memories rushed to the top, tightening her throat. With a shaky voice, she eventually answered, "Because of Lila." "She misled him and caused a rift between us."
Vincent's attorney turned and shrugged theatrically at the court. "So, Mrs. Ravenscroft, you acknowledged that you had doubts about Mr. Blackwood's commitment. Could it be that he was just as ignorant of what you were doing at the time?
"Rebuttal!" Evelyn's voice was piercing.
"Sustained," said the court.
With trembling hands, Ana went back to her seat. She felt Dorian's eyes pierce her, but she couldn't force herself to look at him.
---
Ana was trapped by Dorian in the corridor as the courtroom was recessed for a short break. Anger and hurt were mixed together on his face.
"What kept you from telling me?" His voice was low yet firm as he commanded.
She understood precisely what he meant when she said, "Tell you what?"
He said, "That you doubted me." "That you believed I had deceived you."
Tears flooded Ana's eyes. "Dorian, what did you think I would think? You choose her instead of me. You allowed her to ruin all we owned.
His voice broke as he continued, "I didn't know." It wasn't until it was too late that I realized what she was doing. However, I still care for you.
Ana's voice was shaking as she added, "That doesn't change what happened." "It doesn't take away from the years I raised our kids by myself without you."
Dorian took a step forward, his tone becoming softer. "Ana, I cannot alter the past. But now I'm here. I'm fighting for you, too. For them. Isn't that significant?
The bailiff summoned them back into the courtroom before And could answer.
---
Tension was high during the trial's closing minutes. Although Evelyn's proof refuted a large portion of Vincent's false allegations, Dorian's reputation was clearly harmed.
The judge's voice was calm yet forceful when he eventually spoke. The court determines that there is no basis to investigate the accusations made against Mr. Blackwood in light of the material that has been given. But I implore all sides to reevaluate the private disputes that have drawn my attention to this case.
Dorian's expression briefly lit up with relief. Even if the legal battle was won, his family's struggle was far from over.
---
Unspoken remarks filled the air outside the courthouse. Ana was standing on the stairs with her arms firmly encircling her body.
Dorian came over, his face tired. "I'm grateful," he responded quietly.
Her voice was hardly audible above a whisper as she said, "For what?"
"For defending me," he said. "Even when it wasn't necessary."
Ana looked into his eyes, her feelings racing. "Dorian, I did it for the twins. Not for you.
"I understand," he murmured, with a hint of melancholy in his voice. However, I did mean what I stated there. I will not abandon us. Never, ever now.
A sleek black sedan drew up to the curb before And could reply. As the window slid down, Lila's smug expression became visible.
She said, "Congratulations," in a sarcastic tone. But Dorian, don't settle in too much. This is not the end of it.
As the automobile drove off, leaving a shiver in its wake, Dorian's jaw tensed. With a determined gaze, he turned back to Ana.
He said, "She won't stop." "But I won't either."
The weight of his words made Ana's heart hurt. She desired to have faith in him, to have faith in his ability to keep them safe. However, she couldn't get rid of the notion that the worst was still to come as the specters of their past grew more real.