His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus) novel Chapter 580

The courtroom was electric with tension, a palpable force that seemed to thrum through the very air. Jason had been quiet for the most part, his reticence a sharp contrast to Cedric's animated display, which appeared to have left Jason at a disadvantage.

In the gallery, Nydia's heart was a frantic rabbit, hopping madly with anxiety. Her gaze, intense and unwavering, bore into Jason, and her eyes ached with the strain of her concern. She wished she could do more than just silently cheer him on from the sidelines.

"The plaintiff's counsel, please proceed," Ivan announced, his voice grave but his eyes briefly softening with a brotherly confidence as they met Jason's.

The Dempsey siblings, though grown and less intertwined in each other's lives, still maintained a certain moral compass, unlike Cedric, who seemed to have sold his soul in the relentless pursuit of wealth. Ivan and Jason, they played by the rules, never crossing those ethical lines.

Cedric, on the other hand, held a condescending view of Jason and frequently chided Ivan for being "stuck in the past," boasting about how he was the pillar of the Dempsey family – the eldest son blessed with high expectations from their parents, and the one to uphold the family's prestige once their father, a venerable judge, retired.

But Cedric was blissfully unaware of the steep price that was silently accruing against all he had acquired—a price that would demand a harsh reckoning for his moral bankruptcy.

Jason presented a document, his clear eyes flashing dangerously. "As we all know, the defendant, Elspeth, is far from the innocent she's been made out to be. She's been summoned by the prosecution more than once before her arrest."

His use of "as we all know" was a blatant jab at Cedric, essentially accusing him of lying through his teeth.

"Her arrest was not just for suspicion of murder-for-hire, but also for drug possession and use in public."

The screen in the courtroom flickered to life, showing footage of Elspeth in a drugged stupor at the racetrack's lounge, her moans of pleasure making the audience and even the judges cringe in discomfort.

Cedric glared at Jason, keenly aware of the game he was playing.

"Turn it off, turn it off now! Stop playing it!" Elspeth cried out, her face red with shame and anger.

Jason was intent on using the video as damning evidence, aiming to shame the defendant once more, and he did so mercilessly.

Evadne watched the screen with icy detachment, a sly smile playing on her lips. "If this video were played at Elspeth's funeral, it would be quite the spectacle. A fitting end to a filthy life."

"Funeral?" Thaddeus, holding a delicate hand, his lips twisted in a cruel smirk, added, "After this trial, I doubt Frederic would afford her a dignified funeral, or even bother with a proper send-off."

Glynnis had excused herself, fearing more than just eyestrain if she stayed any longer.

Frederic closed his eyes in anger, wishing he could leave without looking back. But his departure would signal a retreat, and who would stay to witness the farce that would unfold after?

Jason continued, his tone cold, "Tell me, how can someone with such a severe addiction, who needs her fix at any time and place, be more stable than the defendant, Ward? I've seen addicts in withdrawal commit desperate acts, sometimes not even aware of their own actions. The likelihood that she harbored murderous intent is extremely high."

Elspeth glared back at him, her face red as a boiled lobster.

"Your Honor, I object! The plaintiff's counsel is speculating without evidence, and it's irrelevant to the case!" Cedric protested, standing abruptly.

Ivan paused, then looked to Jason. "Plaintiff's counsel, please keep your questions relevant to the case."

"Yes, Your Honor."

Jason regained his composure and looked meaningfully towards Evadne and Thaddeus, who gave him a slight nod.

He turned his sharp gaze back to Elspeth. "Ms. Elspeth, you claim you've never killed anyone. I ask you again, is this true? This is your last chance to come clean."

Cedric scoffed at the simplicity of Jason's question.

"No. I can't even kill a chicken, how could I kill a person?" Elspeth's mind raced, recalling how she'd always manipulated others to do her dirty work. With such stature, she would never soil her hands. "No matter how many times you ask, my answer is the same, never!"

"Very well," Jason said, turning to face the judge. "Your Honor, I'd like to call a new witness to testify on the murder-for-hire charge involving Elspeth."

The courtroom buzzed with confusion as Ivan nodded his approval.

The heavy courtroom doors opened, and a haggard middle-aged woman stepped in, her hair peppered with gray and her clothes modest and worn. This unremarkable woman struck Elspeth like a thunderbolt, terror gripping her heart.

With a clatter, Elspeth collapsed against the defendant's rail, barely holding herself upright.

It was the maid.

The maid in hiding, banished to the quaint R City, how on earth could she be here? She had people on her for years, eyes watching her every move. Even when she was detained, Glynnis was supposed to handle everything. How could she possibly get caught and be testifying in court?