THE SPITEFUL BRIDE: Marry To Rival's Son novel Chapter 187

Chapter 187

The courtroom felt like it was holding its breath. Ethan's voice cracked as he continued his testimony, each word seeming to cost him something.

"My dad found out that my mom was cheating on him and killed her instead. After that he killed her lover too."

The silence stretched until it felt unbearable. Then Ethan dropped the bombshell that changed everything.

"The man my father killed was Liam Chen. Grey's younger brother."

Every head in the courtroom turned toward the back where Grey Chen sat. His broad shoulders tensed and his hands slowly curled into fists on his lap. The pain that crossed his face was raw and immediate.

The prosecutor stood quickly. "Your Honor, the State calls Grey Chen to the stand."

Grey rose from his seat like a man carrying the weight of the world. His heavy footsteps echoed through the silent courtroom as he walked to the witness box.

When the bailiff held out the Bible for the oath, Grey's voice was steady but rough around the edges.

"I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God."

He sat down and his eyes went straight to Samuel Meyer. Samuel stared back with that same cold smile he'd worn throughout the trial. Grey didn't look away.

"Mr. Chen," the prosecutor began, "what was your relationship with the defendant?"

Grey's jaw worked for a moment before he answered. "I worked for him. Not officially but I did jobs for him that he couldn't let anyone know about. He paid my daughter's medical bills in exchange for my services."

"What kind of services?"

"Whatever he needed. Intimidation mostly. Sometimes worse." Grey's voice was flat but you could hear years of regret underneath.

"My little girl was sick and the treatments were expensive. Samuel offered to cover everything if I did what he asked. You do whatever it takes to save your child."

Mia felt her stomach twist. She understood that desperation even though she'd never lived it.

The prosecutor nodded. "Did there come a time when you asked Mr. Meyer for help with employment?"

"Yes. My younger brother Liam was having trouble finding steady work. I asked Samuel if there might be something at Meyer Industries for him. Samuel said he'd see what he could do."

"What happened next?"

Grey's hands tightened on the arms of his chair. "Liam got hired in the security department. He was grateful for the opportunity and worked hard. But then he started acting different. Nervous. Wouldn't tell me why when I asked."

"When did you last see your brother?"

"About three months ago. He came to my apartment late one night. He was scared about something but wouldn't say what. Just kept saying he'd gotten in too deep and didn't know how to get out. That was the last time I saw him alive."

The courtroom was completely quiet now. Even the reporters had stopped taking notes.

"What did you do when your brother disappeared?"

"I looked everywhere. Called the police but they said he was an adult who could disappear if he wanted to. I knew something was wrong though. Liam wouldn't just vanish without telling me. Not with my daughter being sick."

Samuel's lawyer Marcus Wright was scribbling notes frantically but Samuel himself just kept staring at Grey with that unsettling smile.

"Mr. Chen, did the defendant ever ask you to harm his daughter Mia Sterling?"

Grey's eyes found Mia in the gallery. She was holding Stefan's hand and her other hand rested on her growing belly.

"Yes. Samuel called me about three weeks ago. He said he had another job for me. He wanted me to take his daughter. He wanted her dead."

The gallery erupted in whispers but Judge Harrison quickly restored order.

"Did you carry out this order?"

"I did take her." Grey's voice got quieter. "But I couldn't kill her. She talked to me about my daughter. About how she could help make sure the medical bills got paid without me having to work for Samuel anymore. For the first time in years someone offered me a way out that didn't involve hurting people."

"So what did you do?"

"I let her go. I decided I was done being Samuel's weapon."

The prosecutor looked satisfied. "Why are you testifying today Mr. Chen?"

Grey straightened in his chair and his voice got stronger. "Because Samuel Meyer killed my brother. Because he used me for years to hurt innocent people. And because he ordered me to murder his own daughter. I'm done protecting him."

Marcus Wright shot to his feet for cross-examination. His expensive suit was perfectly pressed and his silver hair was styled to perfection but there was sweat on his forehead.

The list went on. Guilty on all counts. Mia felt Stefan's hand squeeze hers as tears ran down her cheeks. It was over. Samuel would never hurt anyone again.

Judge Harrison called for order as the gallery erupted. When quiet returned, he looked directly at Samuel.

"Samuel Meyer, you have been found guilty on all charges. You are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole."

The gavel came down with finality.

Two deputies moved to either side of Samuel as he stood. They cuffed his hands behind his back but he didn't resist. That cold smile never left his face.

As they led him toward the exit, reporters surged forward with cameras flashing and microphones thrust in his direction.

"Mr. Meyer, did you kill both your wives?"

"How could you try to have your own daughter murdered?"

"Do you have any remorse for your crimes?"

Samuel said nothing. He just kept walking with that same unsettling smile plastered on his face. His eyes scanned the crowd of reporters and onlookers with casual indifference.

Then his steps faltered.

At the far end of the press line, standing apart from the chaos, was Jeremiah Sterling.

Who was dressed in an expensive dark coat with his hands casually tucked in his pockets. On his face was a slow victorious smile that matched Samuel's own cold expression.

For just a moment, the two men stared at each other across the crowd.

Samuel's smile flickered and Jeremiah's smile only grew wider.

The deputies pushed Samuel forward and the moment broke. They shoved him into the waiting prison van and slammed the doors shut. The sirens wailed as the vehicle pulled away from the courthouse.

But that image of Jeremiah Sterling's triumphant smile stayed Samuel.

As the crowd began to disperse, Mia leaned against Stefan and let herself breathe for the first time in months. Samuel was gone. Her nightmare was finally over.