The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 245

Laila’s POV

A few days later, I had to go to court to face the judge and the charges against me.

For the past two days, William had been adamant about wanting to go with me, but I had insisted he stay with Ava instead. If something went wrong, I hoped he would be able to stop whoever would try from taking Ava away. William reluctantly agreed.

But neither he nor Riley wanted me to go alone, so Riley was with me now as we walked up the steps to the front entrance of the courthouse. I was so nervous, I could barely speak. Riley must have known that, or maybe she was nervous too, because she didn’t say a word either. She didn’t have to. Her presence was a comfort. Just not being alone here gave me strength.

We hurried up the stairs. We weren’t late, but urgency still hung in the air around us. I had to meet my court–assigned attorney soon, and I wanted to be early enough to have some casual conversation, to get to know them and for them to know me, before we had to get down to business.

Yet, as soon as we walked through the front double door entrance, we both stopped.

Adelaide was right there. And the man she was talking to… that was the judge!

She should have been a fugitive, yet here she was in the middle of this house of law, surrounded by guards and policemen, talking to a judge, and no one seemed bothered in the slightest.

Then the judge started laughing, a full–bodied laugh, at something Adelaide said. She smiled, and touched his arm. He placed his hand on her shoulder. They looked like old friends.

My heart sank straight through the floorboards.

“How can everyone just be okay with this?” Riley asked.

“This is how she is,” I replied. “She knows everyone…”

“I hope that isn’t your judge,” Riley said, but I already guessed it was. Adelaide would only be here right now, so near my trial, to make sure her connections and corruption were firmly in place.

My court case was suddenly less of an uphill climb and more of a sheer cliff with no way up and over.

I was totally screwed.

Adelaide glanced down the hallway and saw me.

“There she is now,” she said. “The imposter… the killer. I hope you make the right decision about her, judge. My darling niece Vanessa deserved better.”

The judge’s good humor entirely soured as he looked at me. His eyes narrowed into a glare. “I will ensure justice will be done.” “Come on,” Riley said, nudging my arm. She whispered, “Talking to them here won’t do any good. We have to meet the lawyer and make plans for the court. I just hope your new attorney is a good one.”

I did too.

We walked away from Adelaide and the judge and found the meeting room where we were to meet my attorney. He was already in there, a file open on the meeting room table before him. Mine, I assumed. As he combed through it, he shook his head, a frown heavy on his lips.

Not a great sign.

“I’ll be in the courtroom,” Riley said, and gave me a quick hug. As she turned away, I braced myself and walked into the meeting

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The attorney looked up. “You must be my client.”

“My name is Laila,” I said, approaching. It felt strange to say my real name out loud. I’d been going by Vanessa Harper for so long that my old name felt like an ill–fitting dress I didn’t quite fit into anymore.

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